City approves payments, change orders
Staff writer
Hillsboro City Council approved payments Jan. 3 for the family aquatic center.
Application and certification for payment from Carrothers Construction in the amount of $286,924.17 was approved.
Mayor Delores Dalke said this would be one of several payments due monthly.
An invoice from Burbach Aquatics in the amount of $13,824 also was approved.
Estimates on the water plant upgrade and presentation of change orders were presented by Don Heller of EBH Engineering, Great Bend. Water system improvements and upgrade estimates totaled $127,105.20 for work completed by Utility Contractors of Wichita. Heller also presented an invoice from EBH for their services in the amount of $13,871. Council approved payment of both items.
Contractors expect to shut down the water plant Jan. 17-18, said Heller. The city should have enough water on hand for three full days.
Heller presented a change order regarding valves on existing filters. There are nine valves, three per filter. They are 23 years old and are the original valves. Heller estimated the cost of new valves at $28,000. The city had not planned to change the valves at this time.
"It's not something we have to do now," said Heller, "but if you don't do it now, you will have to do it later, and it will cost a whole lot more."
With that, council approved the change order to replace the nine valves as part of the water plant improvement project.
Heller also presented change orders for adding color to the clarifier dome walls, adding two valves to the filter lines, adding a drain by the north door of the new building, and moving the blower.
Heller said addition of color to the clarifier dome walls and drain by the north door of the new building already had been done.
"This has to stop," said Dalke. "We need changes to stop without coming to us before. The job isn't done yet, how many more changes will come up?"
Dalke said if changes are made to water plant plans, she would like them to be changes that improve city water, not just aesthetics.
According to Heller, all the change orders up to this time, plus those brought before the council at this meeting totaled less than $20,000. That will be made up for with money set aside in the event the city has to purchase water from a rural water district.
"All the other change orders will be offset by the return of the rural water money," said Heller.
Dalke said return of the money from rural water wasn't certain. The engineer assured the city they will not have to purchase water; however, that isn't for sure, and the city can't count on that money.
Regardless, council approved the change orders.
Finally, Heller said he had tentative approval from KDHE to use peroxide instead of potassium permanganate. Heller said setup for the new chemical would cost approximately $5,000. Peroxide would go in at the water pump station and would be used to clean away restriction in the pipes. It also would remove toxins and organic material.
"From an operational standpoint, it is a good thing," said city administrator Steve Garrett.
Heller said the peroxide would disappear while clearing out the lines.
"Chlorine kills the peroxide," said Heller. "You'll never notice it, except that it will cut down on odor and taste."
No action was taken. Heller will bring more information at a later date.
Bob Previtera of Reiss and Goodness Engineers of Wichita presented council with a contract for improvements to Hillsboro Airport. The city's grant application for improvements to the airport taxiways and the addition of a heliport was approved.
The grant will pay for 90 percent of the improvements after the initial engineering cost. According to Previtera, the city's portion of the total project could be as high as $37,000.
Council decided primary funding for the project could come from the airport fund with secondary funding from the capital improvement fund. The contract with Reiss and Goodness was approved.
Garrett said Hillsboro's water treatment plant is the only plant of its size meeting the state's requirement for TOC (total organic carbon) removal. He said the plant is being contacted by other communities to find out how they are reaching these levels.
Garrett also said funding for the lagoon should be coming from KDHE later this month. The city will be taking bids on the project in April.
Dalke said the city had closed on one piece of property for the lagoon, and signed an extension on another property.
Vouchers for checks were approved. Checks totaled $117,866.20 to be dated prior to Jan. 1, and $38,278.25 to be dated after the first of the year.
The next city council meeting will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the city building.
