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Newton approves $88,200 engineering contract to replace leaning retaining wall on City Lake dam
Summary
Council authorized an $88,200 budget amendment to contract McGill Associates, PA for engineering services to design a replacement for a failing cinder-block retaining wall on the City Lake dam, classified as high hazard by NCDEQ.
Newton City Council authorized engineering services costing $88,200 to design and permit replacement of a cinder-block retaining wall on the City Lake dam after staff reported the wall was leaning and at risk of collapse.
Public Works Director Dusty Wentz told council the City Lake reservoir dam — originally constructed in 1936 and rebuilt in later decades — is classified as high hazard by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). In December 2019 staff observed the cinder-block retaining wall providing wave and erosion protection was leaning; contractors and a dam specialist engineer advised replacement was necessary. NCDEQ requires engineering plan review and likely state permitting for the replacement.
Staff solicited qualifications from engineering firms and recommended McGill Associates, PA based on the proposals received. The city will pay $88,200 for engineering services; once design and permitting are complete a construction bid will be released. Council adopted the budget amendment unanimously. During this item a council member’s video connection was briefly lost and council recessed for 10 minutes; the member rejoined within the recess period.
