Prairie Grove Council Approves Water Bid

PRAIRIE GROVE — A year later than expected, the city of Prairie Grove will get started on a $2 million project to completely rehab its 41-year- old water treatment plant.

Prairie Grove City Council last week approved a low bid of $1.98 million from J.L. Bryson of Huntsville for the renovation project.

City officials originally had thought work would be able to begin by the end of 2015. However, the project was delayed because of planning, engineering and review by regulatory agencies.

Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works, said the window of opportunity to finish the project is during winter months when usage is lower. When plans were not approved in time last year, the decision was made to wait until winter 2017.

The low bid was about $250,000 above the engineer’s estimate given to city officials about two years ago.

“This was a hard bid to get construction estimates because it is so diverse,” Oelrich told City Council members at their Oct. 17 meeting. “It’s not your typical start from scratch project.”

Oelrich recommended the Council move forward with the project.

“I wish it was less but it’s a good bid,” he said.

Construction should start in a few weeks.

The project will include all new electrical wiring, new master control panels, new metering, new plant operational controls and valves in the control room.

Building improvements include new metal siding on existing buildings, replace skylights and interior upgrades, such as a shower, new heater and adding insulation.

New plant equipment will be

new chemical feeders, new piping, new actuators and new master meters. The water clarifier will be completely refurbished, along with major improvements to the filter. The project will provide a new chemical building to provide better mixing and allow pre-chemical sampling from the water intake.

The Council last year voted to issue $2.5 million in water revenue bonds to pay for the project and approved a water rate increase to pay off the debt. Another $ 300,000 will come from city reserve accounts.

As part of the project, the city will add fluoride equipment to the water treatment plant but will be reimbursed about $140,000 for this from Delta Dental Foundation, a non-profit arm of Delta Dental of Arkansas.

Prairie Grove is adding fluoride to its water to comply with state legislation signed into law in 2001. Act 197 mandates fluoridation for water systems that provide service to 5,000 people or more. Prairie Grove provides service to about 5,300 people.

Some repa i rs and improvements already have been made at the plant, Oelrich told Council members. Four pumps have been rebuilt and reinstalled and three solar powered aerators were installed in Prairie Grove Lake earlier this month. The aerators will help keep the water mixed and will help with iron, manganese, taste and odor issues usually associated with lakes.

The total costs of the project will be $2.5 million, which includes the plant rehab and new construction for $1.98 million, engineering for $166,000, pump rebuilds for $153,000 and lake aerators for $188,000.

“Essentially, this will give us a new treatment plant,” Oelrich said after the Council meeting. “It doesn’t give us additional capacity but will allow us to continue to treat our water.”

In other action, the Council placed a sign ordinance on third reading. Council members still are discussing parts of the ordinance. It will be considered for adoption at the November meeting.

An ordinance approving an interlocal agreement with Washington County for community sewer systems also was placed on third reading. The ordinance gives the county oversight on these systems.

The Co un c i l a lso approved a resolution for the city to pay its share of the salaries for the four District Court judges in Washington County. The state is paying one- half the salaries and all benefits. Washington County and 10 cities with District Court departments will pay 50 percent of the salaries, based on population. Prairie Grove’s share is $4,950.