Delays in completing the first phase of the city of Jasper's waste water improvement project are over and the city council authorized the start of the second and final phase of the project when it met in regular session Thursday night, May 22.
The first phase required the construction of a lift station, but technical problems at the construction site had to be resolved, putting the project several months behind schedule.
The second and final phase of the project calls for upgrading the city's waste water treatment plant to address issues with compliance. The city submitted progress reports and a Corrective Action Plan to meet compliance with effluent limits for pollutants like fecal coliform bacteria, total phosphorus, total residual chlorine, and nitrates + nitrites.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment reviewed Discharge Monitoring Reports submitted by Jasper and noted violations related to these pollutants.
The delays not only cost the project time, but prices also escalated during that time and the second phase of the project as originally designed no longer fits the budget, said Mayor Michael Thomas.
The city has received a $440,000 loan and a $1,351,750 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The project had to be reviewed by engineers to see how costs could be brought down while remaining in compliance with required standards.
The second phase of the project had two bidders, and both bids exceeded the budgeted amount of funds, Thomas said. However, Davis Construction of Harrison was the low bidder and agreed to work with the engineer to bring down costs. Some of the cost cutting eliminated asphalt for a driveway leaving it as graveled, and some other embellishments that were not required of the project. Also, some costs associated with the first phase of the project had eliminated the need to expend costs with the second, the mayor explained. Overall, about a half a million dollars might be saved.
The council approved Davis Construction to be the contractor for the project that will serve about 250 customers.
In another matter the council voted to contract with an auditing company to handle the city's proper reporting of expenditures of funds for federal auditing purposes.
