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Winnsboro approves $60,000 Ameresco agreement to study water and wastewater systems
Summary
The Winnsboro City Council approved a $60,000 project development agreement with Ameresco to inventory sewer and water assets, assess infiltration and inflow and produce options and cost estimates to support grant and bond funding for future improvements.
Winnsboro’s City Council on Feb. 10 approved a project development agreement with Ameresco to evaluate the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure and produce a baseline engineering plan and financing options.
Ameresco representative Billy McCord told the council his firm “is effectively a company of engineers and project managers” that works with government clients on water and utility planning. McCord said the scope includes inspecting manholes and sewer infrastructure, producing GPS-tagged inventories, assessing infiltration and inflow and evaluating pumping and plant upgrades.
Council members asked how the work would be funded. McCord and staff clarified the project development fee is $60,000 to produce engineering estimates and options; implementation is optional and, if the city chooses to proceed with construction projects, that initial fee can be rolled into implementation costs and financed through savings or grant proceeds. “You’re not obligated to implement any of that scope with us,” McCord said.
Council asked about the scale of the inventory, with discussion referencing roughly 370 manholes; staff and the consultant said the study will give a firm count and conditions. The consultant said the work will produce multiple options and time horizons (two- to 10-year scenarios) to guide grant and bond applications and prioritize capital improvements.
A council member moved to approve the agreement; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The council did not vote on an implementation contract at this meeting; the vote authorized only the project development phase.
The study is intended to help Winnsboro apply for grants and bond funding and to give the city a clearer capital-improvement plan for water and wastewater work.
