DeKalb staff recommend up to $233.8 million contract to add redundancy at Scott Candler water plant

County watershed and public works staff presented a multi‑year project to increase storage and eliminate a single point of failure at the Scott Candler water treatment plant, recommending award of the construction contract to the lowest bidder and outlining major schedule and service risks.

The planned work would demolish an older filter plant and add two 10,000,000‑gallon storage tanks, a transfer pump station, a new high‑service pump station with multiple 3,000‑HP pumps, and a bypass to route water to existing ground storage tanks. Staff said the project would increase finished‑water storage by about 73% and create alternate delivery paths so the plant would not rely on a single pumping route.

Staff told commissioners the recommended contractor (identified in the presentation as Ruby Collins) offered a bid near $233.8 million and a schedule that could shorten completion from four years to roughly three. The project team said the contract allows early procurement of long‑lead equipment and that construction will require careful sequencing to avoid service interruptions and to manage risks such as a shallow water table, utility conflicts and dewatering costs.

When commissioners asked about the low bid and potential for change orders to erode the apparent savings, staff said they vet the scope and will require documentation for any extraordinary claims that could justify cost adjustments. Commissioners also pressed about lead times for major pumps and the buy‑American requirements associated with federal funding; staff said certain procurement rules apply and estimated pump lead times of about a year.

On community impacts, the chair recommended a town hall for neighborhoods near Winners Chapel and Tilly Mill; staff said most heavy work would be on county property at the plant and visual impacts to nearby residents should be minimal, though they agreed to monitor for vibration and outreach as needed.

Staff said the county has spent roughly five years on conceptual design and noted plans to use construction management services to oversee schedule and quality. The presentation recommended starting notice to proceed in late 2026 pending procurement and audit clearances. The committee did not vote on contract award during this meeting; staff characterized the recommendation as pending final audit and board approval.