Public Works seeks higher consultant cap for engineering work and offers free sewer smoke-testing training

Richard Dickinson, deputy director of Utilities and Waste Management, asked the commission to raise an existing consultant contract cap from $200,000 per year to $500,000 per year through 2027, citing a backlog of work including solid-waste master planning, nutrient-permit work, and water PRV replacement designs backed by grant funding. Several commissioners said they would support the increase if the contract included time limits or regular reporting so the commission can track spending under the higher ceiling.

Dickinson also described a free smoke-testing training and service the county is providing in partnership with Evergreen Rural Water and Pat Bailey on July 21 at the Port of Allen. He said three crews will run simultaneously and target gravity-system areas that feed local pump stations; staff will notify affected customers and said the testing can reveal connections, leaks, and low spots that cause infiltration.

Commissioners generally supported both measures, with one commissioner asking staff to bring time-limited authority for the contract increase and to return contract details for review before significant expenditures.