In an effort to optimize grading of the project site, a surveying error was made and part of the plant site was designed on adjacent property owned by someone else, separate from the 100 acres purchased by the Coosa Valley Water Supply District, officials say.
Mike Walraven with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc., who is the project engineer, suggested Friday morning at a CVWSD special called meeting the board and engineering firm split the cost for the purchase of the additional 5.9 acres which part of the surface water treatment facility would be constructed.
Officials say it is less costly to buy the property than to do additional grading work on CVWSD property.
“We think a 50-50 split would be the best option for the board,” Walraven told the CVWSD members.
Paul Manning, the board chairman, told Walraven it was his understanding Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. would absorb all costs related to the purchase of the additional 5.9 acres.
Board member Greg Gossett said it was not the board’s error, and Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood should be responsible for all the cost.
“We will do that as well, if that is what the board desires,” Walraven said.
The board agreed that costs related to the purchase of the additional 5.9 acres be deducted from Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood’s engineering contract.
The costs involved with the purchase of the 5.9 acres totals $58,969.50. The board also approved to move forward with securing the additional property, so the project could move forward.
“It’s not what we had wished for, but it’s acceptable,” said Burt Hankins, division manager for Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. “It’s a great project. We’re glad to do what we can to move the project forward.”
Walraven said construction of the new surface water treatment facility began Monday and is expected to be completed by August 2011, or within 21 months.
The $32 million surface water treatment facility will initially pump 3 mgd (million gallons a day) of treated surface water. The plant is designed to produce 6 mgd of treated surface water without any capital improvements. However, the facility is designed to pump as much as 12 mgd of treated water.
The wholesale cost of the water from the new surface water treatment facility is expected to cost approximately $2.30 per 1,000 gallons, which is about 20-cents less than first anticipated.
At Friday’s special called meeting, the board also approved to hire Boyd Rose as a grant consultant.
Rose will try to secure a $2.5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to pay for a water intake and pump station.
According to the agreement approved by the board, Rose is paid $3,000 at the time the contract is signed and another $5,000 once the grant application is filed with the EDA. Rose will also receive 1.5 percent of the total grant funds received by CVWSD from EDA.
“I say we take a chance and see,” CVWSD board member Jimmy Bailey, who is on the Odenville Council and also works with the Odenville Utilities Board, said before the board’s unanimous vote. “It would be significant in reducing the cost of water. I would hate to miss it over $8,000.”
St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said the CVWSD board made the right decision by hiring Rose.
“I think it’s wise,” he said.
Officials say Rose retired from the EDA and knows what would set CVWSD’s application apart from other grant requests, increasing CVWSD chances of securing a $2.5 grant for the surface water treatment project.
The CVWSD is a collected effort by the St. Clair County Commission and other municipalities scattered throughout St. Clair County in an effort to secure a good, reliable source of surface water for future growth. Pell City, Odenville, Springville are members of CVWSD.
According to the CVWSD agreement, the St. Clair County Commission, Springville, Odenville and Pell City are required to purchase 750,000 gallons of water each day from the surface water treatment facility, once the plant is up and running in 2011.
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