Elgin OKs $11 million for water treatment plant project
Elgin City Council members gave preliminary approval during the committee of the whole meeting Wednesday to spend almost $600,000 on engineering services to monitor the construction phase of the Airlite Treatment Plant improvement project. The council also officially approved a bid to give about $9.5 million to IHC Construction Company for construction.
The $599,534 agreement with Burns and McDonnell will be to ensure the construction phase of the project goes smoothly. The engineering firm will be expected to monitor the construction company's work, provide construction material testing and serve as a full-time inspector throughout the project, among other duties.
The Airlite project as a whole, including pre-construction engineering and both matters discussed by council members Wednesday will cost about $11 million.
Kyla Jacobsen, water director for the city, said the project is slated to take 18 months and conclude in March 2013. Jacobsen said the plant was taken out of service May 1, in light of impending construction but also because of deteriorating infrastructure.
“Stuff wasn't working and we didn't want to fix it if we were just going to turn around and demolish it,” Jacobsen said.
The plant will not be able to treat water until the completion of the project, which includes demolition of certain parts of the facility as well as new construction.
Council members did not discuss the expenditures Wednesday but unanimously approved the engineering agreement during the committee of the whole meeting and the construction bid during the council meeting.