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New Treatment Lab proceeds
(Clinton) -- The council agrees to continue a process to seek bids on a new lab at the 'Regional Water Reclamation Operations Center
The concept of a new operations center and lab facility at the wastewater treatment plant will continue in the planning process. The city council approved the process to seek bids and how best to structure the bidding process.
The council had been told earlier that the facility should have been in the initial design plans-but was not included, but is needed.
Architect Dave DeChant presented the plans to the council at the committee of the whole session last night (Tuesday).
He said they have worked with the staff to develop the most efficient facility possible. The budget to build and equip the lab and center is estimated at $3-million, which is less than the first estimate of $5-million.
Council member Paul Gassman questioned DeChant what does the new facility provide over the continued use of the lab at the current plan. The architect says more room and modern testing equipment and being located where it is needed are some of the positives about a new facility.
Plant Superintendent Dan Riney said there were issues with trying to transport samples from the new plant to the old lab in the timely fashion needed for testing.
Gassman would also like to have a plan develop with what they city might do with the ten-thousand square foot building at the old plant.
Finance Director Jessica Kinser said the funding was included in a proposed 20-million dollars bond issue for sewer improvements to be funded by the local option sales tax.
The council voted to seek more information on how the city can best seek bids on the project with that report to come back to the council at the first meeting in December.
Written 11/14/2012 by Dave Vickers - KROS News
