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SALEM -- The utilities commission received updates on the department's ongoing construction projects during its final meeting of the year Thursday.
Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley said that phase three improvements at the wastewater treatment plant were approximately 80% complete, while delivering Plant Manager Dean Stokes' report on his behalf. Donnalley said that work in the last month had been centralized in the sludge conditioning and anaerobic digestor buildings which have both been fitted with temporary power while walls and interior painting are completed, and that piping to the sludge conditioning building was "over 90% complete" and fire alarms were being installed.
Donnalley also said that in a meeting with Stanley Miller Construction Tuesday he "was very clear" that while an extension had been granted to the project for the switch gears, he wanted everything else to be finished by the original completion date.
Progress also continues on the Water Plant Improvements, with tree clearing completed by A.P. O'Horo Company subcontractor H&H Land Clearing. Burgess and Niple Resident Project Representative Gregg Carver noted that they had hauled away all the felled trees and stump grindings, and A.P. O'Horo had since been in to take measurements in preparation for construction.
While Water Treatment Plant Manager Larry Sebrell said that in a recent meeting Burgess and Niple said that the final details were being completed for the project contract with A.P. O'Horo for the upcoming East Cold Run dam repairs, progress remains stalled on efforts to secure easements with nearby property owners. Donnalley said that while the department was still in discussions for the easements, the property owners were "dragging their feet."
Donnalley said that he had discussed the matter with Burgess and Niple and the feeling was that the department may be best served by pivoting to "option C" and building an access road through its own property instead. Donnalley also said that the department was further investigating where the edges of the department's property actually are and how far it extends into the forest.
Utilities Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson stressed the importance of determining the department's next steps on the project, so delays don't affect grant funding.
"Let's figure out what we're going to do with this, so we don't lose out on grant funding," said Hodgson.
Following a roughly 15-minute executive session for the discussion of personnel and legal matters, the board voted unanimously to offer a part-time Special Project Two position to former Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Jeff Zimmerman retroactive to Dec. 4 at the current contract rate of $35.07.
The utilities commission will meet next at 3 p.m. on Jan. 16 for their annual reorganizational meeting.