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SALEM -- The utilities commission approved a new oversight agreement in its August meeting.
The contract with Benesch Engineering is for engineering oversight services at the installation site of the new water line connection between South Lincoln Avenue and Snyder Road at a cost of $5,300. Utilities Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson said that the original engineering agreement for the project had left out oversight services, necessitating the approval of a separate agreement ahead of the beginning of installation, which is now imminent, as Hodgson said that the necessary pieces were in place to begin the installation of pipe for the connection. However, while construction is clear to begin, Hodgson said that the final connection to the lines wouldn't be made until the final permitting process with the state had been completed.
Construction also remains ongoing at the wastewater treatment plant for its phase 3 improvements. Plant Manager Dean Stokes said that most of the electrical work for the improvements had been completed, as well as the curbing gutter for the storm line. Stokes also said that the trickling filter lids should be arriving on site soon, and that work has recently begun on the second stage of the plant's mixing tank upgrades.
Forward progress also continues on improvements at the water treatment plant, with electrical diagrams for the improvements currently undergoing review prior to submission for state approval. Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley said that they were waiting on input from the city electrician who was on leave for another week. Hodgson announced that the department and Benesch were collaborating with U.S. Rep Bill Johnson's office to identify and develop proposals for potential grant funding for phase 2 of the plant's improvements, which Hodgson has previously described Johnson's office as "excited" about.
The Stewart Road water tank cleaning project and the Goshen Road water line project are currently both in a waiting phase; with the Stewart Road project on the schedule for cleaning by Liquid Engineering in September and plans for the Goshen Road project still pending state review.
The East Cold Run Reservoir dam repairs are also stalled, while the groundwater pressure testing mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was completed last month. Benesch is still waiting for further communication from the state. A representative from Benesch said that while they would be attempting further contact with the state about the project soon, it was anticipated that a stability analysis would be mandated prior to further repair work. He also said that the state would likely request the current two-to-one ratio of the dam's slope be increased to a three-to-one ratio, noting that were the dam built today that would likely be the mandated ratio.
The utilities commission will meet next at 4 p.m. Sept 13.
mahart@mojonews.com