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20. Authority to Bid - Reconstruction of Greenacres Lift StationTelephone (406) 752-6600 FAX (406) 752-6639 Post Office Box 1997 Zip 59903-1997 Incorporated 1892 Memorandum Date: March 29, 1996 To: Al Thelen, Interim City Manager From: John Wilson, Assistant City Engineer Re: Proposal to Rebuild the Elk's and Greenacres Sewage Lift Stations Proposed Sewer Improvements While preparing the FY 96 budget, Bruce and I discussed the urgent need to rebuild the Elk's sewage lift station on 18th Street and the Greenacres sewage lift station on Kelly Road. At the time, Bruce felt that the Highway 93 North sewer extension deserved top priority. Funds in the amount of $478,000 were set aside for the sewer extension in the FY 96 budget, but the Council later chose not to pursue the project. Given that we have a sewer system in need of numerous repairs and upgrades, it is important that we complete some capital improvements during this budget year. Staff proposes that $210,000 of the budgeted sewer capital funds be used to reconstruct the Elk's and Greenacres sewage lift stations. Staff foresees the Elk's facility to be similar in appearance to the one at Woodland Park, while the Greenacres facility would be similar to the one at Buffalo Stage. Staff also proposes that another $30,000 of the budgeted funds be used to purchase a trailer mounted auxiliary power generator to serve sewage pumping stations at Greenacres and five other locations. Required Council Action The Public Works staff hereby requests Council authorization to pursue and if possible enter into a contract with Carver Engineering to design and inspect the reconstruction of the Elk's sewage lift station. The contract would be for an amount not to exceed $5000. Staff also requests Council authorization to advertise for three construction and equipment bids for: - the reconstruction of the Elk's lift station, - the reconstruction of the Greenacres lift station, - and the purchase of a trailer mounted electric power generator. A detailed justification for these requests may be found on the following page. Douglas Rauthe Mayor Bruce Williams City Manager City Council Members: Gary W. Nystul Ward I Cliff Collins Ward I Barbara Moses Ward 11 Dale Haarr Ward 11 Jim Atkinson Ward III Lauren Granmo Ward III Pamela B. Kennedy Ward IV M. Duane Larson Ward IV The Elk' lift station has become the most critical improvement need for our sewer system_ Although it is the oldest lift station, this facility must pump as much as 1.3 million gallons of sewage per week, compared with 450,000 gallons for the peak week of any other lift station. The pump control system is a virtual museum piece and replacement parts are very hard to find. The steel dry well, which houses the pump and control systems 18 feet below ground level, is rusting through, leaking groundwater continuously. The concrete wet well is also undersized for current demands and is structurally impaired from 30 years of acid corrosion. Our construction estimate for this project is $175,000, assuming that the existing auxiliary power generator is adequate for the new pumps. Believing that the facility could be designed for under $5000, staff recommends that the engineering for the Elk's lift station be contracted to Carver Engineering. They have previously designed four similar lift stations in our system and they could determine whether the existing generator would be sufficient for the new pump system. The Greenacres lift station must also be upgraded as soon as possible to meet pumping demands. Although the system has not deteriorated to the same extent as the Elk's lift station, it has reached it's useful capacity. During one recent event, both pumps ran together for several hours and were still barely able to meet demand. Although each sewage lift station has two pumps, the second one is intended to act as a backup. When one pump is down for repairs, the system must be able to meet demands with a single pump. . On top of the current demand, the Greenacres area is developing quickly, with at least 110 new homes to be added to the service area in the very near future. This includes 24 homes in the Woodland Court subdivision, 23 homes in Meadow Park II, 24 homes in Southgate Villas and 40 homes with prepaid connection fees in the Mar Lee Villa mobile home park. The Woodland Court subdivision has brought sewer service up to several vacant properties and another mobile home park, so even more new customers can be predicted. In short, the pump system must be upgraded now to stay ahead of demand. We can upgrade this system without having to build a new wet well. The project, which is much less complex than the Elk's lift station, can be designed by the Public Works engineering staff to keep the total cost under $50,000. Auxiliary power is not currently available at the Greenacres lift station. When the facility was built in 1981, it's entire service area received water from the Greenacres community water system. At that time any power outage was expected to shut down the supply of water as it shut down the sewage pumps. Today, with our reservoirs serving at least half of the area, sewage continues to flow even when power is off at the pumps. A power failure during a high flow period would cause sewage to back up into basements, leaving us no choice but to relieve the system into the neighboring slough. Staff has considered a FY 97 budget proposal to purchase a trailer mounted electrical generator. This portable generator could serve the Greenacres lift station, as well as five others which lack auxiliary power. A trailer mounted unit is particularly well suited to Greenacres because the pump station is right in someone's front yard and there is no place for a permanent generator. If the Council so desires, the trailer mounted generator could be purchased this year, for approximately $30,000, from capital funds in the current sewer budget.