Council approves change order for North Wastewater plant; belt press chosen to speed processing

The Josephine City Council approved change order No. 3 on the North Wastewater Treatment Plant project to modify the sludge-handling system.

Staff and the engineering consultant explained that switching from a screw press to a belt press should speed sludge processing, reduce odor exposure by shortening the time roll-off dumpsters hold material and reduce continuous staff monitoring. The packet described a gross change-order figure (presented in staff materials) and a net increase that staff described in several accounting frames during discussion; staff repeatedly cited a net increase in the $450,000 range for the belt-press swap while the agenda packet referenced a gross figure exceeding $1 million for the broader set of modifications.

Councilors asked for the two key points on the record—odor control and efficiency—and staff replied the belt press is used elsewhere regionally and should cut processing time significantly. One council member expressed concern about cumulative spending across multiple infrastructure projects; the council debated but ultimately approved the change order. A single council member recorded an abstention on the final vote.

Staff said the approved change order replaces the screw press and associated triple-drop chute system with a belt press and associated conveyor components and that the city will receive credits for removed items (staff cited an $86,000 credit for removing a sludge-holding tank). The council’s approval directs staff to proceed with the modifications and the required accounting updates to the project.