By: Ashley Quintela Valle
During its Feb. 5 meeting, the City Council voted on a new water treatment facility.
The council unanimously voted to accept an $89.6 million contract with Hawkins Construction in order to build the Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin facility, which will be utilized to treat sewage.
The idea of this facility, which will be located near Baxter Arena, is to reduce pollution that is dumped into city waterways. The facility will not only hold water, but also treat, disinfect storm and sewage water that flows into The Little Papillion Creek.
The original bid on the project was about $130 million, which was way above the Public Works Department budget.
Jim Theiler, assistant public works director, spoke on the department’s behalf on the new cost of the project. He said the facility will most likely be funded with a federal loan.
“We’re not going to spend a dime if we don’t have to,” Theiler said. “These are the public’s funds. We watch over those funds very closely.”
Construction on the facility, which will take 3-4 years to complete, is expected to begin in March or April, Theiler said.
Other agenda items:
- The city is considering hiring private contractors to help with city pothole repairs. The council agreed to vote again on the subject next week to decide if the city will pay three vendors to assist. The work could cost up to $450,000.
- The council unanimously voted 7-0 to approve an agreement detailing financial strategies and maintenance for the renovation of Gene Leahy Mall as well as the riverfront area downtown.
- The mall with undergo construction first by installing security fences, which will be installed later this month, with other construction to follow in March. The city will contribute $3 million annually for the next 10 year to help fund the renovations.
