Beatrice officials approve design agreement for next major wastewater plant improvement

BEATRICE – Design will be undertaken on a next major improvement to the City of Beatrice wastewater treatment plant.  City elected officials have approved a consulting agreement with Olsson, Inc. to design a grit-handling system at the plant, which City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says would continue modernizing the plant.

"We selected a particular type of technology we'd like to use going forward. This contract here is to design the installation of that system into our process. This contract is for $260,470. This contract will go about a year...into the design phase and then into the bidding process. A year from now is when we look to install the actual grit system itself."

The overall cost of the improvement is projected to be about $2.2 million.

The city council also approved an agreement to install new pumps and equipment on one of the underground water reservoirs located at 4th and Grant Streets. Tempelmeyer says the pumps would be replaced on the north underground reservoir.

"Those pumps have been in place for fifty-plus years...we initially budgeted for this project last year, so we carried forward $90,000 in the budget for this project. This contract is for $128,520. We're looking to make up the difference...there's some other capital projects that the water department will delay, in order to move this project and make sure it gets funded."

A third professional services agreement was approved by officials with JEO Consulting Group for developing updated spill prevention control at three above-ground fuel storage locations, in compliance with EPA regulations. The three locations are the wastewater treatment plant, Board of Public Works Service Center and the Midwest Area Refuse Service location.

In other actions, the Beatrice City Council voted 6-2 approving an owner-occupied housing rehab project for $25,000….which will use part of a $400,000 grant the city received. Eligible projects are coordinated through the Southeast Nebraska Development District.

City officials also approved a lease of Beatrice Municipal Auditorium Space for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Gage County. Space that was the former fire chief office plus some conference room area will be leased to CASA in the south lower level of the building, for one-dollar per year.