Council awards design contract for new water plant
By Lynn Zerschling | Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- By a unanimous vote, the City Council Monday awarded a contract to two engineering firms to design the new 10 million gallon-per-day water treatment plant in the Southbridge industrial area.
The $3.19 million contract to the design team of Black & Veatch, Kansas City, Mo., and Olsson Associates South Sioux City will set the stage to open the plant by Dec. 31, 2011.
The city administration used its Quality Based Selection process to interview three pairs of design firms for the jobs because of the complicated nature of the project. The committee recommended Black & Veatch and Olsson.
Councilman Brent Hoffman questioned the selection process, but voted for the contract.
"If our current capacity is 30 million gallons a day, we've had days with 28 million gallons per day and we don't have much margin for error," he said
Ricky Mach, water plant superintendent, noted that Dakota Dunes, Sergeant Bluff and South Sioux City buy water from the city, but have not been using the capacity those agreements allow -- up to 7.5 million gallons per day.
Councilman Jim Rixner, who also has questioned the use of that selection process in other contracts, said, "There's no question this is a highly technical process and we need the best firms working on ... this is a substantial investment in our infrastructure."
Councilman Aaron Rochester represented the council on the evaluation committee.
Mach said the new plant will provide water for new industries, the growing Morningside area and existing businesses. City Manager Paul Eckert pointed out the plant will be designed so it can be expanded when the need arises.
The engineering firms will design the well field and plant, looking at alternatives to treating the increasing pollution found in the nation's water from pharmaceutical products.
In answer to a question from Councilman Dave Ferris on the cost to build the plant, wells and distribution lines, Mach said the final number won't be known until the design has been completed. However, he said a rough estimate would be in the $40 million range. The new plant will be built on the former 27 Flags Golf Course, which the council bought last April.
The $3.19 million contract to the design team of Black & Veatch, Kansas City, Mo., and Olsson Associates South Sioux City will set the stage to open the plant by Dec. 31, 2011.
The city administration used its Quality Based Selection process to interview three pairs of design firms for the jobs because of the complicated nature of the project. The committee recommended Black & Veatch and Olsson.
Councilman Brent Hoffman questioned the selection process, but voted for the contract.
"If our current capacity is 30 million gallons a day, we've had days with 28 million gallons per day and we don't have much margin for error," he said
Ricky Mach, water plant superintendent, noted that Dakota Dunes, Sergeant Bluff and South Sioux City buy water from the city, but have not been using the capacity those agreements allow -- up to 7.5 million gallons per day.
Councilman Jim Rixner, who also has questioned the use of that selection process in other contracts, said, "There's no question this is a highly technical process and we need the best firms working on ... this is a substantial investment in our infrastructure."
Councilman Aaron Rochester represented the council on the evaluation committee.
Mach said the new plant will provide water for new industries, the growing Morningside area and existing businesses. City Manager Paul Eckert pointed out the plant will be designed so it can be expanded when the need arises.
The engineering firms will design the well field and plant, looking at alternatives to treating the increasing pollution found in the nation's water from pharmaceutical products.
In answer to a question from Councilman Dave Ferris on the cost to build the plant, wells and distribution lines, Mach said the final number won't be known until the design has been completed. However, he said a rough estimate would be in the $40 million range. The new plant will be built on the former 27 Flags Golf Course, which the council bought last April.
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