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Council approves engineering-fee increase for Tamia Street sewer-separation design
Summary
Keokuk approved an amendment to the engineering contract (Bolton and Menk) adding $233,000 for sewer-separation design, facility planning and cost estimates for the Tamia Street project; council questioned line-item detail and urged timely delivery to meet funding deadlines.
The Keokuk City Council approved an amendment Sept. 4 to the city’s engineering agreement for the Tamia Street reconstruction and sewer-separation project that increases the consultant fee by $233,000 for a total not to exceed $696,250.
Staff said Bolton and Menk (transcribed variably in the meeting) will prepare designs, cost estimates, and a facility plan required for state funding through the Iowa State Revolving Fund and other programs. Staff told council the sewer-separation component was added to prevent stormwater from entering the sanitary system and to help comply with an EPA mandate on combined-sewer overflow separation.
Several council members pushed for more detailed line-item justification for the additional fee and asked whether the city had attempted to negotiate the scope downward; staff said delay could jeopardize application deadlines for SRF, CDBG and federal BIL funding (documents due by Dec. 1, 2025) and that construction would not occur until 2027 if funding is awarded in mid-2026.
Council approved the amendment after discussion; staff said the work will position the city to seek loans and grants to cover the sewer-separation portion and refine design ahead of a fall 2026 bid letting expected if funding is secured.
