Board approves $149,220 design contract to replace aging electrical boxes at Dillman plant
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Summary
City of Bloomington Utilities approved a $149,220 professional services agreement with TYLIN to design repairs and upgrades for a failed medium‑voltage electrical box at Dillman Wastewater Treatment Plant and to design five additional boxes; staff estimated an eight‑month design phase and warned of long transformer lead times.
The City of Bloomington Utilities Board on April 6 authorized a $149,220 design agreement with TYLIN (TY Lin, LLC) to design repairs for a failed medium‑voltage electrical box at the Dillman Wastewater Treatment Plant and to complete designs for five additional boxes.
Daniel Hudson, capital projects manager, told the board the failed unit was part of an original set of boxes that are roughly 50–60 years old. "These boxes are 60 years old," Hudson said. He described the emergency wire‑around repair that kept plant systems operating and said the TYLIN contract covers a full design so the city can solicit bids for permanent replacement.
Hudson estimated the design would take about eight months followed by a two‑month bidding period; he cautioned that transformers on the market have long lead times and could add many months to the construction schedule. "To buy transformers today on the market, it may take 12 months, 18 months after you order them to get here," Hudson said.
Board members asked about the life expectancy of the equipment and whether the temporary fix would last through design and procurement. Hudson said the temporary repair should hold for now but acknowledged uncertainty if another failure occurs, which would require another emergency contractor.
The board voted to approve the TYLIN professional services agreement.
