Board approves payments, chemical bids and a plant change order; approves minutes

The Waukesha City Board of Public Works approved routine and procurement actions, including payments, two chemical bids and a construction change order, and heard operational updates.

The board approved minutes from its Nov. 6 meeting and accepted eight payments (two final payments) as presented. On procurement, staff recommended and the board approved awarding the low bid for phosphorus-removal chemicals to Kamira Water Solutions: ferric chloride at $2,891 per dry ton and ferric sulfate as an alternative at $2,999 per dry ton delivered. For polymer used in sludge dewatering, the board approved a single bid from SNF Polydyn at $1.83 per pound delivered.

"We received bids from three different companies...we'd recommend moving forward with the low bid from Kamira for the ferric chloride in the amount of $2,891 per dry ton," staff said. On polymer, process supervisor Daniel Bridal explained, "We add it to our sludge before it goes to our centrifuge...after it goes through the centrifuge...it comes onto the belt at about 25 to 30% solid," describing the dewatering benefit.

On construction work, Zach Eisner, plant manager, presented Change Order #1 for the Clean Water Plant Phase 3 with contractor J.F. Ahern. Eisner said the change order requires filling a 62-inch effluent pipe left after demolition of two aluminum domes and capping it with a stainless-steel top hat to prevent collapse and stop live wastewater from sloshing. Doing the work will require temporarily draining two primary clarifiers and bypassing flows during the operation. The board approved the change order.

Staff also gave a short operational update on leaf pickup and thanked assisting crews from the Waukesha Water Utility and Park Rock Forestry. The Chair then adjourned the meeting.