County to spend $239K on upgrades and road off Wolverine Trail 

 

MILL SPRING—Polk County should soon begin upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant, located at the former Woodland Mills in Mill Spring.  

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and heard from County Engineer David Odom. Odom said he sent out informal bids and received one bid from Southeastern Asphalt.  

“I went into negotiations to get closer to the budget,” Odom told commissioners.  

Commissioners originally budgeted $250,000 for the project. The contract with Southeastern is for $219,203, the initial phase cost $9,204 and contingency is budgeted at $10,958 for a total project cost of $239,365.  

Odom said he would get started on the upgrades immediately. Commissioners approved a budget amendment to take the money from its fund balance as well as approved a project ordinance.  

The wastewater treatment plant serves the middle school and the county department of social services, both off Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring.  

Odom told commissioners last November there have been challenges at the wastewater treatment plan over the last two years. He said the plant is getting older and needs investments.  

The state has sent notices about the plant, including the need for an equalization basin, which is estimated to cost $150,000.  

The plant also needs an access road, which is estimated at $100,000.  

Polk County built the new middle school and recreation park and when it did, it also purchased the wastewater treatment plant that used to serve Woodland Mills, which was shut down.  

The access road would be constructed from Wolverine Trail near the tennis courts to the plant.