Cornell City Council; Delays not expected to hamper wastewater plant project

The bitter cold that was recently visited upon the area, slowed down work on the improvements to Cornell’s wastewater treatment plant, but progress has resumed, with promising results. Updates on the project were heard Feb. 18, during a public hearing, prior to the regular Cornell City Council meeting.

Lynn McIntyre, planning and grant team lead with Cedar Corp., was present to answer any questions the public may have, as a requirement of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that was received by the city. The city was awarded $1 million in CDBG funds in July 2019, with construction on the plant that was supposed to begin in July 2020.

With unforeseen issues with the scope of the project, an amendment request had to be filed, which gave the city an extension.

“However, they’re (state) still sticking with the completion date and expecting that the project be completed by Oct. 31 of this year,” said McIntyre. “So, that’s the goal.”

The project is currently 20 percent complete in Phase 1, and going well, with updates on schedule. All phases of the updates must be complete, along with the paperwork, and submitted to the state by Dec. 31.

“Right now, we’re not expecting any delays,” said McIntyre.

Moving to the regular meeting, members agreed on change orders from R.J. Jurowski Construction, Inc., in the amount of $17,976. Partial payment for that came from dealing with a concrete tank at the plant that was thought to have been removed, while another order came from some more extensive work than was thought, when excavating around the headworks building.

That leaves the city a remaining contingency of $270,000, which, according to Cedar Corp. engineer Kevin Oium, is a healthy amount.

The council also approved hiring Fryberger Law Firm to provide bond counsel services, related to the anticipated sewer system revenue bonds. City administrator Dave DeJongh said Fryberger is the most competitive price out of the two proposals received.

In addition, members passed Resolution 21-1, authorizing the issuance and sale of up to $3,909,765 sewerage system revenue bonds, series 2021.

“It’s mainly housekeeping,” said De-Jongh, “to make sure that everything’s in place for this funding or bonding issue, for the sewer utility.”