Progress continues at Plymouth’s wastewater facilities. Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson told the Board of Works Monday that Division 1 of the Ledyard Plant renovations is moving along smoothly. “We expect to have the plant start-up on the east side. The west side’s already up in operation, but the east side, we’re anticipating that to begin next Tuesday,” he said. “It’ll go for a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday start-up process. The first side went relatively smooth, so we expect the same for the east side.”
He says progress is also being seen in Division 2, which is the 12-inch water main extension from West LaPorte Street to Oakhill Avenue, “The contractor has been in town, and he has addressed the punch list, which was still outstanding. As soon as it stops raining, hopefully this week, and dries up enough, we will do a final inspection, and at that point, we would expect him to submit his final claim for the release of the remaining retainage.”
Meanwhile, negotiations are entering the final stages between Midwest Engineers, the firm doing the design work for the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement project, and Kokosing Industrial, the firm tentatively chosen to do the construction work. As part of the process of using a Guaranteed Savings Contract, the city chose Kokosing as the most qualified firm to submit a proposal. This method also allows for the negotiation process to take place.
The city has $10.4 million budgeted for the project. Mark Sullivan with Midwest Engineers says negotiations are going well between the two firms, “What I can report back is that the price negotiations with Kokosing are falling within that budget, so we’re in good shape with that. The next step that we’re doing with them, we will begin working on a draft contract with Sean [Surrisi], your attorney, and we’ll report back in another meeting or so with a draft contract and a proposed recommended price for moving forward.” He says the contract will be signed once the bond sale for the project is completed.
To help cover the additional debt payments that will bring, as well as the existing expenses, the city is considering a sewer rate increase. It was presented during Monday’s Common Council meeting, and a public hearing on the new rates will be held during the May 23 meeting.
