City Commissioners approved roughly $1.7 million worth of contracts for infrastructure and utilities projects during Tuesday’s meeting.

Those projects are:

43rd Street North

Reconstructing a portion of 43rd Street North from the north cul-de-sac to a point 50 feet south of the intersection with 8th Avenue North. The project consists of reconstructing approximately 250 feet of road way; installing valley gutters; curb and gutter; sidewalk; and ADA curb ramps. The project will require temporary closure of 8th Avenue North from 42nd Street North to 44th Street North. Access to local residences and businesses adjacent to construction zones will be maintained.

The contract includes about 1,100 square yards of 4-inch asphalt concrete pavement; about 560 lineal feet of integral concrete curb and gutter; 1,150 square feet of 4-inch concrete sidewalk; 2,200 square feet of 6-inch reinforced concrete; four truncated domes; and 2,200 square feet of sod placement.

The project was advertised twice in the paper and one bid was received from Geranios Enterprises, Inc. for $199,911.96. Street Division Improvements funding is budgeted for the project.

Lift Station Removal

The existing lift station was installed in 1979 and is nearing the end of its useful design life. The project will help prevent sanitary sewage overflows from the aging lift station and continue to allow the city to provide sanitary sewer service.

The project begins at Lift Station 8 on the dead-end of 20th Avenue South, east of the intersection of 20th and 4th Street South.The project continues along an easterly extension of 20th Avenue South then south for 420 feet and ties into the gravity system at the east end of 21st Avenue South. The contract includes about 850 lineal feet of new 8-inch diameter PVC sanitary sewer collection main; 194 lineal feet of new 10-inch diameter sanitary sewer collection main; five 48-inch diameter manholes; abandonment of the existing sanitary sewer lift station force main and wet well manhole; removal of two manholes; and landscaping and irrigation system repair.

The project was advertised three times in the paper and two bids were received ranging from $217,980 and $230,315. Central Excavation submitted the low bid and commissioners approved that contract. City sanitary sewer funding is budgeted to fund the project.

Storm Drain in Prospect Heights

The city approved a $166,756.10 contract with Horn Construction for storm drain system improvements to reduce the potential for storm water impacting motorists and property during heavy rain events.

Commission considers $3.27 million bond for storm drain improvements

The project includes upsizing 382 lineal feet of storm drain pipe and install two new inlets along 16th Avenue South between 4th and 2nd Street South; and upsize 16 lineal feet of storm drain pipe on 2nd Street South between 16th and 17th Avenues South.

Installing manholes, two inlets and inlet leads, removing existing storm drain, restoring the roadway gravel base and asphalt pavement, plus miscellaneous concrete sidewalk, curb and apron work are also included in the contract.

Work is scheduled to begin no later than Sept. 1 and is anticipated to be completed by mid-October.

Two bids were submitted ranging from $166,756.10 to $215,015. Horn submitted the low bid and met the city’s requirements. Storm Drain Capital Funds are being used for the project.

Northwest Alleys

The city is working on a project to reduce storm water ponding issues along 3rd Alley Northwest and 5th Alley Northwest between Vaughn Road and 15th Street Northwest. Flat grades and low areas in the alley have created ponding issues throughout the alley and some of those ponds have reached depths of six inches or more, according to city public works.

The city received two bids ranging from $134,863.80 and $171,000 with Geranios Enterprises, Inc. submitting the low bid and being awarded the contract.

The first phase of the project was finished in November 2017 and addressed issues in 4th Alley Northwest.

The contract includes about 550 feet of 12-inch SDR 35 PVC storm pipe; about 120 lineal feet of integral concrete curb and gutter; two 24-inch storm drain riser inlets; Type I Curb Inlet with concrete apron; two 5-foot diameter manholes; 200 square feet of 6-inch reinforced concrete; 1,100 square yards of separation geotextile; and 600 square feet of sod.

City storm drain funding and street improvements other than buildings funds are budgeted for the project.

Lift Station 9 Rehabilitation

The city awarded a $260,520 contract to Ed Boland Construction Inc. to maintain the function of Lift Station 9, eliminate the clogging of the pumps and upgrade the communication system in coordination with other lift stations maintained by Veolia Water.

Veolia Water, the city’s contractor for operation of the wastewater treatment plant, and had reported frequent clogging associated with the two pumps in sewer lift station 9. The station serves the Sunrise Court Apartments complex, which includes 14 multi-unit apartment buildings.

The city found that the drywell housing the pumps was corroding in several areas.

The project includes repairing and coating the lift station drywell; rebuilding both existing lift station pumps; replacing the gate and check valves, sump pump, blower, dehumidifier, and floor mat heater; upgrading electrical and installing a new disconnect and control panel, and setting up and maintaining all necessary bypass pumping. The control panels and associated electrical will be moved to ground level for easier access by Veolia Water since currently, confined space protocol must be followed to maintain/operate these systems.

The project is funded by the sewer capital fund.

The contract had been scheduled for a vote at the July 3 meeting but was postponed so that the Great Falls Housing Authority Board could meet. The board met July 19 and agreed to honor the original agreement and continue to pay for electricity at Lift Station 9.

Sewer main lining

This project will rehabilitate 12,501 linear feet of 8 and 9-inch diameter sewer mains at 34 locations spread throughout the city. The mains were identified by the Public Works Utilities Division as priorities for lining.

The Utility Division completed sewer main camera inspections that were used to identify and prioritize sewer mains which needed rehabilitation.

The project is part of the city’s ongoing rehabilitation program of sanitary sewer mains that use trenchless technologies. Public Works officials say the Cured-in-Place-Pipe technology extends the life and reduces maintenance costs of deteriorating sewer mains without disturbing soils or structures above.

Many sewer mains in the city are aging and defects can lead to raw sewage leaking into ground water and make routine maintenance difficult, according to public works.

The commission approved a $378,950 contract to Planned and Engineered Construction, Inc. and storm drain capital funds will be used for the project.

Central Montana Agri-Tech Park

The commission voted to approve a $123,806 contract to Thomas Dean and Hoskins, Inc. for the third phase of storm drain improvements design in the Central Montana Agri-Tech Park.

City approves $150,000 of tax increment financing funds for storm drain project

The sanitary sewer utility and street installations for the area were completed under Phases 1 and 2 in 2014. The storm drainage network is the last remaining major utility to be installed. The storm drainage system will serve the entire CMATP development and properties east of Black Eagle Road. TD&H completed the preliminary storm drainage design in November of 2016, including conceptual storm drain sizing, the topographical survey of the corridor, and the easement documentation.

The project is being funded with tax increment financing funds.

Water meter equipment

There are about 22,000 water meters within the City Water Distribution System and the city has replaced a majority of the smaller meters that weren’t compatible with their radio read system.

On Tuesday, the commission approved the purchase of water meter equipment from Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $240,000.

The city is currently working to replace the larger meters, which are two to eight inches, and installing radio read equipment on the remaining meters. The radio read meters are safer and more efficient, according to public works. So far, about 6,500 radio reads have been installed in the city.

In fiscal year 2018, which ended June 30, the city purchased $230,000 worth of radio read equipment, meters, meter parts and installation equipment from Ferguson.

City public works staff are planning to replace about 100 of the two-inch and larger meters over the next three to five years since they’re unable to read them remotely now and employees much enter every property and the numbers off the meter, which is time-consuming and inconvenient to property owners.

Public Works is also installing about 15,000 radio reads, which will take 15-20 years.

The city also anticipates more challenges since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has changed the definition of “lead free” from 8 percent to 0.25 percent of lead in brass. The majority of the city’s meters are brass so when they have problems, they can’t rebuild the meters and will have to install new 0.25 percent lead free or composite/plastic meters.

Water meter equipment and supply purchases are budgeted on a yearly basis by the Public Works Water Distribution Division.