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City commission discusses options for improvements at treatment plant

Options and cost estimates for phase 2 of the planned improvements at the wastewater treatment plant were presented to the Concordia city commission during a study session that followed a short regular meeting Wednesday night at City Hall.
Phase 1 of the two-phase approach to address the recommended improvements at the plant was completed in August 1, 2018, at cost of $2,749,140.53, and included upgrades to the clarifiers, grit chamber and return slug facility. It also included the installation of a screwpress to dewater the process sludge (initial biosolids).
The second phase of the improvement plan, which is under design by Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. (PEC), includes replacement of the influent pump; new variable frequency drives; new influent flow meter; modifications to the aeration basin mixing equipment; replacement of the electrical power feed including service conductors and conduit; new main disconnect; new main electrical gear; replacement of the diesel generator and new automatic transfer switch.
Sara Unruh, professional engineer with PEC, presented design plans and options to the commissioners during the study session.
“Now we are looking at the next phase. And this next phase is to address some other issues of the plant, and also look at what we can do for the next step as far as the biosolids, which is what we are going to focus on tonight,” Unruh said.
During a meeting in June 2019, the commission authorized the design contract for phase 2 in the amount of $149,000 for investigation of options for the biosolids system handling in anticipation of a study session, as well as design, bidding and construction administration for the improvements to the influent pumps, aeration basin and electrical systems. The contract also included a not-to-exceed amount of $223,500 for on-site construction services.
The 30 percent design drawings were submitted to the city and reviewed in an onsite meeting on December 9. The 90 percent drawings and specifications will be submitted to the city for review by January 31.
Also included in the phase 2 scope of work is an evaluation of options to address disposal of the biosolids produced by the processing equipment installed in phase 1.
The options presented to the commission by Unruh included construction of a biosolids storage building to store the processed Class B biosolids until they can be land applied or installation of additional equipment to further process the biosolids to achieve a Class A product that can be applied to any ground — agricultural, public or private.
Currently, sludge produced at the plant is stored in a storage tank and is hauled in semi-liquid form and spread on tilled agricultural land. That requires an agreement and coordination with private land owners so not to negatively interfere with their farming operation. The process occurs twice per year, requiring 200 labor hours each time, plus fuel and equipment.
The first option presented by Unruh to store the Class B biosolids, would require survey and geotechnical field work to determine the existing conditions at the selected location for the structure and design and construction of a roofed storage structure with three partial walls to store 60-days of biosolids.
The cost estimate for the first option, including $920,000 for the storage facility, is $3,797,100.
The Class B biosolids produced require continued regulatory compliance with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with respect to waste disposal of sludge material. It would also require the purchase of additional equipment and the use of labor to assist with the drying process ad would require the hauling of material from one location at the plant to another.
The second option of installing additional equipment to achieve a Class A product, would require survey and geotechnical work to determine existing conditions where the current building would be extended, and design and construction of a 20-foot extension to the existing north side of the administration building and biosolids equipment. It has a total estimate cost of $4,523,100 which includes $1,646,00 for the Class A soil processing equipment.
Unruh said the Class A product can be applied to a broader range of land than the Class B product.
“That (Class A) can be applied to your park ground, your golf courses, any public land. It can also be private land. I could go pick it up at the wastewater plant and put it in my garden,” Unruh said.
City manager Amy Lange said that taking the extra step to produce the Class A material would allow the city to give back to the residents that have paid for the treatment plant.
“Provide them a free product that would help enhance their gardens, enhance their lawns, that sort of thing. And just being a little bit better for the environment,” Lange said.
It was a consensus among the commissioners that the option presented to take the next step and produce the Class A material was the best option for the city to pursue.
Funding for the improvements comes from a water bill fee charged to all residential and commercial water customers.
A $5 per month meter charge was added to water customers on December 1, 2013. That was increased to $10 per month on December 1, 2014. It was intended to pay for bonds issued to cover the cost of the design, construction and inspection of the phase 1 improvements as well as the design for phase 2. The bonds are set to retire November 1, 2032.
The $10 per month fee is anticipated to remain on the water bills through the retirement of the bonds.
It was anticipated that an additional $5 per month charge would be required to fund the phase 2 improvements.
Lange said that the first option presented that included the storage building for the Class B materials would add an additional $3 to water bills. The second option with additional equipment to produce the Class A material would add $4 per month. It would take the retirement date for the bonds to 2040.
The additional charge to the water bill would not be implemented until January 2021 after the $2 per month for the swimming pool improvements has been taken off.
A proposed timeline for the issuing of bonds for the phase 2 improvements was presented to the commission with the process beginning July 15 and closing on October 8.
There was no action taken by the commission during its regular meeting.
City finance director Amber Farha presented the commission with a city sales tax report.
The city collected $1,759,217.27 in sales tax in 2019 as compared to $1,715,006.77 in 2018. That is a increase of $44,210.50.
The total collected amounted to $89,217.27 more than budgeted for in 2019.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901