Newton council adopts sewer project amendment, awards water-plant fluoride contract and approves equipment financing

Newton City Council on Aug. 3 unanimously adopted several spending and procurement measures, including a capital-ordinance amendment for a sewer project, a contract award for a water-plant upgrade and multiple financing resolutions to buy heavy trucks and equipment.

City Manager Todd Clark told the council the North Carolina Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan for the West A Street sewer main replacement totaled $1,112,695.69 — $412,304.31 less than the original estimate of $1,525,000 — and asked the council to amend the Capital Project Ordinance to reflect the lower figure. The council voted to adopt the amendment.

Public Works and Utilities Director Dusty Wentz explained that the Water Treatment Plant currently uses a 33-year-old powdered sodium fluorosilicate feed hopper to add fluoride, a treatment required by the State of North Carolina; staff recommended replacing it with a liquid-fluoride feed system to reduce direct handling of powdered chemicals and to improve dosing accuracy. Staff and the project engineer (The Wooten Company) received four bids and recommended Gilbert Engineering Company as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder at $272,084. With a 10% construction contingency and Wooten’s engineering costs the total project estimate rose to $349,092, about $32,242 over the FY2022 budgeted amount. Council adopted the related budget amendment and awarded the bid to Gilbert (unanimous).

Wentz also asked council to approve immediate purchases of heavy trucks and equipment because of long delivery times and volatile prices. Staff provided short-term quotes, proposed a 7.5% contingency for each item, and identified cooperative-buy sources; the council approved a sole-source request for an underground puller, adopted Intent-to-Reimburse resolutions for a rubber-tire loader ($171,250 financed over 15 years) and for a broader set of vehicle and equipment purchases ($813,550 financed over 10 years), and authorized purchases up to the quoted-with-contingency amounts.

The consent agenda, approved at the start of the meeting, included sewer adjustments; carryforward of unspent funds for a fire engine; budget carryforward of outstanding purchase orders at June 30, 2021; a Police Department fitness-equipment amendment; acceptance of the 2020 Local Water Supply Plan; easements for Conterra and Charter; a fireworks permit for the American Legion Fair; and a set of street-closure items. Each of the formal votes recorded in the transcript passed unanimously.

Council members who moved or seconded primary motions included Council Member Jerry Hodge, Mayor Pro Tem John Stiver, Council Members Jody Dixon, Anne Wepner and Ed Sain. The meeting adjourned after routine reports.