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Polk Utilities Commission orders two‑year WSIP risk assessment; consultants to report draft in weeks
Summary
Commission heard staff say an external two‑year risk assessment of the Water System Improvement Program will be prepared by consultants from CH2M Hill and Parsons, with a draft expected in roughly six weeks to analyze schedule, material and labor costs and recommend course corrections.
Polk Utilities Commission members were briefed on plans to commission a two‑year risk assessment of the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) and asked to expect a draft report within weeks.
Mister Irons, leading the presentation, said the commission asked CH2M Hill and Parsons to “pull together a 2 year later risk analysis looking forward,” and named Dave Bachus and Tom Searle as the consultants who will lead work to assess material pricing, national labor costs and competing regional projects. “We really do wanna know what the future is looking like and what course corrections we might take,” he said.
Irons said the consultants will evaluate procurement choices — including whether to buy and stockpile materials now — and produce recommendations. “Six months ago, they might have recommended buying it right now and stockpiling it. Today … the cost is actually going down,” he told commissioners, indicating market timing could change recommended actions.
Commissioners pressed staff on potential schedule and budget impacts. Mr. Irons said the assessment will examine right‑of‑way efforts and environmental mitigation costs that could require funding adjustments and that some larger projects might be accelerated through contracting changes to stay on course.
Commissioners asked that they be prepared for changes when the assessment arrives. One commissioner urged the board and staff to communicate clearly so the public does not view schedule adjustments as unexpected: “When that report comes out and it says something has changed … we have people throwing up their hands,” a commissioner said. Staff and a board representative said they support presenting the findings “in black and white” and stressed transparency.
What’s next: Staff expects a draft of the consultants’ assessment roughly six weeks after engagement; the commission will review recommendations on procurement, schedule adjustments and potential funding implications before taking any formal policy action.
