City completes wastewater improvement plant upgrades
City Commissioners will be asked during their Feb. 4 meeting to approve final payment of a wastewater treatment plant project.
Commissioners will be asked to approve the final payment of $53,114.41 to Central Plumbing and Heating and $536.51 to the state miscellaneous tax fund for upgrades to the plant’s solids building ventilation.
The project included demolition and removal of one existing mezzanine mounted air handler, associated roof and all exhaust fans, two building heating water pumps and associated piping and ductwork, according to city staff. The project installed two new replacement air handlers, rooftop exhaust fans, replacement supply and exhaust ductwork, hydronic heating piping, pumps and heat exchanger, and ductless cooling units for the solids building.
Commission OK’s $1.98 million contract for wastewater treatment plant improvements
Commissioners awarded a $1,133,889 contract to Central in January 2023 and the final project cost is $1,073,018.37, which is $60,870.63 less.
Substantial completion of the project was Dec. 18 and Central has completed all work and punch list items, according to city staff.
The city commissioned a study in 2017 to investigate the overall condition of ventilation systems in specific facilities at the wastewater treatment plant, including the solids building. The study noted that buildup of ammonia gasses and air stagnation was evident in multiple visits and the corrosive ammonia gasses were causing damage to electrical components within the building, according to city public works.
City Commission approves utility, sanitation fee increases
The study recommended various HVAC improvements within the building to address the issue.
The city contracted with GPD, the firm that conducted the study, in 2021 for design and implementation of upgrades at the solids building.
The city received one bid for the construction project, which was Central, in 2023.
Commissioners would deny final payment, but “failure to provide a valid reason for disapproval could potentially result in the City of Great Falls violating the twenty-one day prompt payment window specified in the agreement.”
