GOVERNMENT City of Pearland approves contracts for major wastewater plant project
FUNDING THE FACILITY The Barry Rose Water Reclamation Facility expansion project is one of the most expensive major projects the city of Pearland is working on as the facility approaches its required capacity limits.
BY DANIEL WEEKS
cost $13.4 million. The sole dissenter to the precon- struction contract update was Council Member Alex Kamkar, who protested the agreement due to the use of certificates of obligation to pay for parts of it. Certificates of obligation are a method of borrowing money local gov- ernments can use to fund infrastruc- ture projects without voter approval. Kamkar expressed discomfort with the idea of not getting voter approval for this part of the project. Epperson said using certificates of obligation rather than the standard revenue bonds has a smaller impact on residents’ water rates. “The reason we went with COs is for a better rate that helps manage the expense of enterprise fund and keep the water rates low,” Council Member Tony Carbone said. “[I’m a] big fan of going to the voters for general bonds, but when we’re on the enterprise fund side, it only makes sense to go with the COs to reduce our interest rate cost.”
previously made, and operational repairs are yet to be made. “There’s a few things in each plant that we need to deal with so that we can have those plants in good oper- ating order for the next three years,” Epperson said. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality mandates a construction planning process must begin for wastewater plants when they reach 75% capacity, which the Barry Rose facility has reached, according to the city. Additionally, TCEQ requires construction to start at a facility when it reaches 90% capacity. The Longwood facility has reached 90% capacity, and construction must begin soon, Epperson said. Epperson said the age and condition of both plants, which were built in the 1960s, are in need of replacements regardless of the state’s capacity guidelines. The preconstruction contract amendment adds $1.2 million to the contract, totaling about $2.4 million. The design contract is estimated to
Pearland City Council has moved forward with two contract updates for a Barry Rose Water Reclamation Facility expansion due to approach- ing state-mandated deadlines and aged infrastructure. The project entails expanding the Barry Rose Water Reclamation Facility and decommissioning the Longwood Water Reclamation Facility. This is one of several water and wastewater improvement projects the city is taking on, leading to increased water rates for residents. The contracts approved at a Feb. 20 meeting included an amendment to a preconstruction service agreement with McCarthy Building Companies and a design services contract with Freese and Nichols. “Preconstruction” means construction work that would address critical repairs ahead of the main project to keep the facilities running in the coming years. Interim City Manager Trent Epperson said life safety repairs were
$226M TOTAL:
$195.3M : Construction
$500K : Furnitures, fixtures and equipment $1.2M : Preliminary expenditures report $5.6M : Construction management/inspection $9M : Land $14.4M : Design
SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • MARCH 2023
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