The Centralia City Council Monday night put the brakes on the next step to constructing a new $25-million water plant.
Councilman Rob Jackson made the motion to table the $1.7-million dollar engineering contract with Curry and Associates to complete plans and oversee construction.
“Really we need to get this project going it’s important for the community that we have this done. There are things we have to do a little more research on before we move forward with the project.”
The city council was then unanimous in the tabling of the project.
The council moved forward on another contract with Curry and Associates to complete plans and oversee the construction of a new raw water line from near Boulder on Carlyle Lake to the east of Shattuc Road.
City Manager Scott Randall says the goal is to have the project bid this summer. That will allow work to be completed on a late-year timetable to protect an endangered species that is present along one section of the proposed pipeline route.
“The cost of this project is more than we have in grant money. Current estimate is about 3-million, we have about 1.7 in federal grant money. It is our hope that when it eventually goes up for bid it will be less than that. Cost of pipe has gone from $43 a foot to almost $150 per foot. It’s starting to come back slightly and we are hoping we are able to take advantage of some additional savings and get it done closer to $2-million.”
Randall was asked by the city council if additional money was being sought for the raw water line project from the Illinois EPA.
“There are small amounts for projects like this for communities of our size and by small amounts, it’s not to exceed $200,000. It is our intent to go after that funding source for 8 digits. We are looking at 10-20 million from IDPA for the water treatment plant and candidly thought it was best not to use up any chips on a small component like this for a couple hundred thousand when we are looking at 10 to 20 million for a brand new water treatment plant.”
City officials recently met with their lobbyist in Springfield to develop a plan to seek funding.
Several other projects will also move forward. A contract not to exceed $34,500 with Gonzalez Companies, LLC was approved for design engineering and construction engineering services for the replacement of the Jolliff Bridge Water Line from McCord Street 5,000 feet north. Two resolutions were approved for engineering services on the Gragg Street improvement project from Lincoln to Country Club Road. One is for engineering services from Volkert, Inc at a cost of $198,200, and a second to allow usage of Rebuild Illinois Funds to pay for the engineering costs. The board rejected both bids for reroofing city hall. The low bid of $201,000 was more than $50,000 overestimate. The project will be rebid.
The council also approved an ordinance that will automatically reduce the number of liquor licenses when one is turned in.
