Weatherford board approves GMP 3 for Paul Phillips plant expansion and reviews footprint for future GAC contactors

The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board on an affirmative voice vote approved Guaranteed Maximum Price 3 (GMP 3) for the Paul Phillips water purification plant expansion, adding $23,597,528.80 and increasing the project’s combined contract amount to an amount not to exceed $52,973,109.05.

Staff presented details of GMP 3, explaining it covers the balance of phase 2 work—above-grade construction of the new filter process building, a rapid mix vault, portions of chemical-system improvements and pipeline connections—and includes the CMAR fee and seven months of general conditions. Staff said schedule risk has been mitigated by prior pre-purchases and that the new filter building is expected to be operational by late summer with final acceptance in October.

"I apologize. I need to work on the titles to shorten those up a little bit," staff presenter Rick Schafer said in introducing the GMP details, later noting, "there's a lot of additional risk associated with connecting in and building onto an existing structure," when explaining a recommendation on how to phase future GAC work.

The motion to approve GMP 3 was made by Dr. Tom Novak and seconded by Ken Davis; the board chair called for a voice vote and the item passed. The transcript records the motion and passage but does not contain a roll-call tally.

Separately, Schafer urged the board to consider including the structural shell for two additional granular activated carbon (GAC) contactors (numbers 7 and 8) as part of the current construction so the city would avoid higher future costs and contractor-assumed risks tying into the older structure. Staff described a cost comparison: building separate structures for the ultimate four contactors now would add about $1.7 million to the current contract but was estimated to save roughly $1.3 million if the city waited 10 years to finish out contactors 7–8.

Board members questioned the nature of the construction risk tied to tying into the existing building, asking whether soil, stabilization or prior construction defects were the concern. Schafer replied the principal issue was contractor risk and the potential for complex tie-ins to the existing heavily reinforced concrete structure. Several board members said they were generally comfortable with the concept and asked staff to finalize design details and confirm funding implications; no formal vote on including contactors 7–8 in the current GMP was recorded.

The board approved GMP 3 and directed staff to continue developing options and final cost estimates for the GAC contactor footprint.