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Smithville staff: federal earmark will fund sewer projects but Corps’ NEPA review delays bidding to February
Summary
City Administrator Wagner told aldermen that a Water Resources Development Act earmark administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fund three sewer/water projects but requires a full NEPA review, delaying planned bidding until February at the earliest and possibly requiring minor additional costs and schedule adjustments.
City Administrator Miss Wagner reported that Smithville has been identified for a federal earmark under the Water Resources Development Act to fund three infrastructure projects but that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will administer the funds and requires a full National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.
Wagner said the earmark covers projects identified earlier, including the South Force Main, the Rocky Branch gravity sewer main and the 144th Street pump station. The Corps’ requirement for a full NEPA review means the city’s earlier plan to advertise bids in October is no longer realistic; Wagner said bids are now expected to be let "in February at the earliest." She added that NEPA will add modest costs to the project timetable and that staff and the city’s engineers will need to coordinate approvals with the Corps.
Wagner also told aldermen the city must set its tax rate prior to Oct. 1 but that Clay County assessor data required for the calculations has not yet arrived; depending on timing the city may need a special or emergency meeting to comply with public-notice deadlines. She said staff will reach out to aldermen as the information becomes available and asked members to submit any budget questions to staff promptly.
No formal action was taken on the federal earmark during the meeting; the report was informational and staff described next steps for completing NEPA and preparing to advertise bids once the federal process is complete.
