New engineering contract approved
The Town of Columbus has approved a new contract for its wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation that includes new additions and a lower overall budget.
Columbus Town Council met Thursday, Feb. 16 and approved a revised $597,250 engineering contract with W.K. Dickson Community Infrastructure Consultants, which is an increase from the previous engineering costs of $571,750.
The engineering contract increased in order for engineers to design a new laboratory, a new second chlorine contact chamber and a new water supply well.
Engineer Brian Tripp with W.K. Dickson met with council on Feb. 16 and reviewed the changes to the scope of the project. He said other changes include changing the type and size of the sludge storage facilities.
Tripp’s estimate on the rehabilitation in January was for those additions to increase the total cost of the project to $2,836,750, but with adjustments his estimate is now $2,747,250, which is under the original $2,750,000 estimate.
Columbus received a letter in December 2011 from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) indicating that the town’s engineering report was approved.
Columbus has been approved for a state loan of an estimated $2,750,000 at no interest in order to rehabilitate its wastewater treatment plant, which is approximately 40 years old.
The town is scheduled to submit its final plans and specifications to the state on June 1, to advertise, receive and submit bids in December and to execute the construction contract in January 2013.