The Bremen Town Council members voted to approve the second reading of the proposed amendment to the sewer rate ordinance, but will wait on the adoption of the document.
A public hearing on the ordinance was held during the council’s April 22 meeting. Jeff Rowe from Baker Tilly explained that the proposed rate increase would cover the operating costs of the utility as well as the construction of the new facility and Interceptor Sewer. No figures were given, but an explanation of next steps was presented.
During the Bremen Town Council meeting held April 8, Ken Jones from the town’s engineering firm JPR suggested that the town council postpone the bid opening for the new Wastewater Treatment Facility and Interceptor Sewer project as it appeared that there would be no bids to open during a meeting set for that action April 11. The town was hoping to open bids and approve a bid in time for the spring closing of the State Revolving Fund Loan process April 22, but Jones said at that time that contractors would like more time to research the project and produce good, informed bids for consideration. Also, contractors were saying there is a lot of work in the market which was causing some hesitation.
This week, Jeff Rowe commented that he and officials from JPR spoke with the state concerning the town’s preferred funding agency for the projects in the State Revolving Fund. The state will be able to accommodate the town and postpone the bond closing to the end of June. It will give the town time to re-bid the project and open those bids to accept the lowest responsible bidder and have a better idea of where the rate ordinance will fall. It will be then when the council will consider the third reading of the ordinance with better aim at a rate structure for adoption, as long as the rates do not exceed what has been already advertised. If that occurs, the public hearing process will need to start over.
The council did unanimously approve a motion to re-advertise for bids for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Interceptor Sewer with a bid opening in June.
