Engineers report progress on multiple district water projects; federal prison pipeline near completion

Veil Engineering and GRWM delivered progress reports May 22 on a slate of water and sanitary projects serving the Electric County Water and Sewer District. The most advanced job is a pipeline for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which Veil Engineering said is near completion.

Veil Engineering (speaker S3) said contractors submitted pay request No. 13 for $278,722.72 and that 25 contract days remain. S3 reported 94.3% of the contract time has elapsed and 93.6% of the work is complete, with an anticipated contract last day of June 15. S3 told the board a final directional drill under the Roxanna Post Office and remaining meter sets will finish line work and prepare the job for pressure testing and final tie-ins.

The engineering update covered several other projects. For Red Star Turkey Creek Phase 3, S3 said the property owner signed a release to allow an easement for an access road and water line to the tank and booster pump site; geotechnical borings were completed and a geotech report was received. Loggie Hollow has received Division of Water approval (May 6) and is ready for advertisement once remaining environmental items are cleared. Cumberland Phase 4 design is complete and a tank site identified; the city will need to negotiate a purchase agreement. Millstone sanitary work includes preparing a no‑discharge permit and a closure plan for a decommissioned septic system; the closure plan was approved by Division of Water.

GRWM (speaker S5) summarized the RD-funded meter-replacement project: the order has been adjusted (reported as 2,750) and 1,126 meters are installed (about 45% complete). GRWM said replacement meters have been delivered, custodial daily reports are being provided to staff, and weekly summaries are available. GRWM also noted a $4.5 million CDBG disaster-relief flood mitigation project is about 30% designed and is tracking toward Division of Water submission next month.

S5 raised two items that require board action: approval of pay applications tied to the meter-replacement work (Vanguard Utilities) and a decision on an option agreement for a potential water plant site. He said the option buys time to secure a Department of the Army 404 permit and to finish PDR review required for funding, and that the option contains no scope or fee changes to previously approved work.

Board members asked procedural questions about reimbursements, permit timing, and coordination with county and state reviewers. No votes were taken on the majority of the engineering items; instead the board approved the listed pay applications and the property option later in the meeting.

The board expects final pay paperwork for the construction items and updated schedules from the engineers at the next meeting.