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Kewanee council rejects Stewart Spreading sludge contract after heated cost debate
Summary
The council voted down a proposed $83,500 contract to remove 1.1 million gallons of sludge, with members questioning how costs and responsibility were handled and requesting more options, including partial hauling by the city.
The Kewanee City Council on June 24 rejected a proposed contract with Stewart Spreading to remove biosolids from the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant after members questioned the cost and who was responsible for the current condition.
City Manager Bradley told the council the contractor’s price to clean 1.1 million gallons of sludge this year would be $83,500, with ongoing annual costs about $60,000 (subject to CPI adjustments for the next three years). Bradley said the city had budgeted $42,000 for hauling this year and $32,000 the previous year and that the Sewer Fund was projected to end the fiscal year with a $117,796 surplus and an ending balance above minimum requirements. The motion to authorize the agreement with Stewart Spreading failed on a motion by Council Member Faber, seconded by Council Member Komnick; roll call showed 0 ayes, 5 nays.
Council Member Michael Yaklich said the council had been “kept in the dark and given limited options,” urging clearer communication and better documentation of prior handling. Mayor Gary Moore said Bock Inc., a contractor involved in recent work, had been reluctant to assign blame but noted that the city contact they had worked with was no longer employed by the City of Kewanee.
Council members asked staff for more detailed pricing comparing partial hauling by city crews versus hiring Stewart Spreading to remove all material, and Bradley forwarded an email to the council with pricing for hauling out 600,000 gallons. Council members also discussed whether Bock Inc. should share or offset costs if its actions produced savings from the chosen hauler; the council requested further information before taking action.
Because the motion failed, no contract with Stewart Spreading was approved and the council left direction to staff to return with cost alternatives and clarifications on responsibility and options at a future meeting.
