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.