Mobridge council hears water and wastewater project updates, approves multiple contractor payments

MOBRIDGE, S.D. — The Mobridge City Council on Feb. 11 received progress reports on water and wastewater projects and approved contractor payments and an emergency pump repair to keep system operations on track.

Public works staff told the council the project plans for a wastewater-related project have been returned to the funding agencies — Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has already sent a letter of approval and the state revolving fund (SRF) returned about 10 mostly minor comments last Friday. Staff said they returned responses Monday and expect a review turnaround of up to 30 days; once SRF clears the plans the city will advertise for bids for about five weeks and likely return with bids at the April council meeting.

On current construction, staff reported the water transmission line along the highway is installed with only punch-list items and valve adjustments remaining. The new water storage tank is in service, the presenter said, although the level sensor is not yet active and is expected to be installed within the week so the treatment-plant controls can read the tank level.

"The tank is currently online," the staff member said. "The level sensor at the tank is not on yet. I hope to be installed this week, and then our control integrator will start reading from the tank." (Public works staff, Feb. 11)

Work at the water treatment plant is proceeding under two contracts: Century is handling equipment and piping and is on the last of three basins, and Moose Electric is performing electrical work, including a recent control-panel switch-out that staff said went smoothly. Staff estimated about one month remaining for Century's scope and said electrical integration and antenna work at the tank remain.

Council approved three contractor payment requests related to those projects. Staff initially described Preload LLC's pay request No. 11 as $34,303.50 (electrical work reaching approximately 80% completion), but the amount recorded in the formal motion text was $44,303.50; the council approved the pay request by roll call. Century's pay request No. 8 for work in Basin 1 and some Basin 3 — $98,341.10 — was approved. Council also approved pay request No. 7 to Moose Electric for $55,093.50 for electrical work and the control-panel switch-out.

"They have about one month until completion," the presenter said of Century's work. "The controls that were at the water treatment plant were outdated and needed updating."

Separately, the council approved a $34,250 repair for a bio-tower lift pump at the wastewater treatment plant after a speaker identified as Michael said one of two pumps is worn out and the remaining pump is currently running alone. "This one is completely wore out, and we only have one running right now," Michael said; he added the repair turnaround is about four weeks.

The council moved the items by motion and approved them during roll-call votes.

What happens next: Staff will await final SRF approval before issuing a public bid advertisement and will return to council when bids are received; staff also expects to complete remaining electrical integrations and antenna work in the coming weeks.