Hoyt Lakes council reviews public engagement plan and approves early construction-manager process for White Lakes water project

Sarah Swedber of Bolton & Mink presented a draft public engagement plan for the East Range/White Lakes water integration project and asked the council for feedback on outreach tactics and next steps. "The document's several pages long. I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time going in detail page by page," Swedber said, directing the council to appendix D as a one-page summary of engagement strategies and timelines. She described a recommended project website, reusable media packets, table tents and 20-by-30 project posters for ribbon-cutting and pop-up events to reach residents and funders.

Jake from Bolton & Mink told the council the materials would support funding outreach and public events, including a ribbon-cutting tied to the water-treatment plant, and noted flexibility in event timing and frequency. Mayor Scott and councilors asked for clarification on timing; Bolton & Mink said the immediate priority was getting a project website built and ready ahead of a summer ribbon-cutting.

Separately, councilors and technical-committee members discussed the town standpipe’s condition. Councilor Jarvala reported that a recent underwater ROV inspection could not confirm the tank bottom because of accumulated sediment and said an interior cleanout and inspection or an ultrasound survey would be needed to assess the standpipe’s remaining service life. Staff noted the operation would require coordination with the fire department and seasonal temperature constraints for draining and cleaning.

Because the project’s design is at roughly 60% and funding will proceed across multiple cycles, Bolton & Mink recommended bringing on a construction manager at risk (CMAR) to provide pre-construction services, value-engineering and early cost modeling. Jake said pre-construction fees commonly range from about $15,000 to $50,000 and that early CMAR involvement often reduces risk and long-term costs. Utility Director Benda and technical-committee members supported starting the solicitation and interview process for a CMAR to allow the manager to engage with plans and estimating during the remaining design work.

The council voted to begin the CMAR solicitation/interview process and approved the engagement plan discussion to move forward with website development and outreach materials. Next steps identified: start the CMAR procurement over the next one to two months, build the project website, and prepare outreach materials for the proposed ribbon-cutting event.