GENEVA – Aldermen Monday recommended approval of a nearly $700,000 contract to CDM Smith for design of its wastewater plant improvements.
The improvements are necessary in order to meet required phosphorus discharge limits to the Fox River, officials said. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the Geneva plan requires it to meet the limit of 1.0 milligram per liter annual phosphorus limit by July 2019.
A detailed design of the improvements is expected to take until September 2016 to complete before construction can begin so the city can meet the deadline, officials said.
CDM Smith also did the facility plan update on the city’s wastewater treatment, officials said.
Public Works Director Richard Babica said the project is the result of ongoing work by staff for the past 18 months.
Second Ward Alderman Richard Marks objected to a contract of this size being recommended without competitive bidding.
“I just have to say a $700,000 no-bid contract makes me very uncomfortable,” Marks said. “I think something this large should go out to bid. I know they [CDM Smith] did the first part of the study, but I can’t vote for a $700,000 contract without some type of bidding.”
Babica agreed the contract was “exceptionally large,” but the hours estimated to complete the work is more than 4,800 hours.
“Which is more than the equivalent of two full-time employees for a year of doing nothing else but work on this project,” Babica said. “CDM Smith has been active with the city. There is no doubt we could have taken that information and put it back out to bid, it will delay the project substantially.”
The overall budget for constructing the upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant is more than $8 million, Babica said.
“Staff feels that CDM Smith is a logical choice to continue down this path,” Babica said. “CDM Smith has been well versed with this project from the basic design. This is a good value ... it’s going to be money well spent.”
The Committee of the Whole vote was 6-1 with Marks casting the lone “no” vote and three aldermen absent. The city council will take final action on the recommendation.