Kenly tentatively awards WWTP upgrade and accepts $847,371 state grant for water and wastewater projects

The Kenly Town Council on April 12 tentatively awarded a $962,378 contract for wastewater-treatment-plant upgrades and unanimously accepted an $847,371 Directed Projects Grant from the 2023 Appropriations Act to support local water and wastewater needs.

Interim Town Manager Tony Sears told the council that the single bid for Project SRP-W-ARP-0099 came from Eberhart Construction, Inc. The scope includes new dissolved-oxygen and pH probes, floating aerators, a weather station, a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and replacement of aging equipment. Council members were told the town proposes to fund the project from its $6.1 million ARPA allocation; final contract approval is contingent on review and approvals by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).

Sears also presented an NCDEQ offer of $847,371 under Session Law 2023-134 (Directed Projects Grant) for the town’s water and wastewater reserve. Council voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution accepting the grant. The council’s tentative award of the WWTP contract was adopted by motion as well, with council members noting that DEQ approval is required before a final award and contract signing.

Councilors did not record extended debate; the council’s action packet included bid documentation and a list of technical upgrades. The town listed the award as tentative to reflect outstanding state review steps and to make clear that the project cannot proceed to construction until NCDEQ completes its review.

The council approved both measures by recorded motions during the New Business section of the April 12 meeting. The town manager’s office will return to the council with any DEQ conditions and a final contract for formal execution.