Council approves USDA change order submission, additional sewer materials purchase and property‑insurance adjustment

The Freeport City Council on May 12 approved several staff requests to keep infrastructure projects moving and to reconcile an insurance billing adjustment.

Engineering staff said additional grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture could fully fund concrete slabs to enclose dewatering bins at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. "This amount would be completely funded by the grant through USDA," the engineering presenter told the council, and staff asked for approval to submit a change order to USDA for review and potential approval.

Council likewise approved a change order request and voted to have staff submit it to USDA for the agency’s review. Separately, council approved the purchase of 25 additional valve pits and associated equipment for the Bay Area vacuum sewer expansion; staff said buying the materials directly from the supplier would avoid additional sales tax. The transcript shows a transcription error in the purchase amount (reported as "$150,42.50" on the record); staff later provided budgetary context but the council voted to approve the purchase on the record.

Finance presented a budget amendment to cover a look‑back insurance audit tied to the treatment plant coming into service. Staff explained the adjustment was needed because the original treatment plant (about $30 million at the time it was placed in service) was not reflected properly in prior billing; council approved a motion to amend the budget and expend funds to pay FMIT.

All items were approved on motions with council members indicating support and "motion carried" recorded in the minutes. No additional public comment was recorded on these items during the meeting.