A new control system for high-service pumps that push treated water to town is the latest capital project the city hopes to address with $20 million of bond proceeds that became available last month.
The Hot Springs Board of Directors will consider awarding a $298,250 contract tonight to Crist Engineers Inc. to design and oversee the installation of new switchgear and a motor-control center at the Ouachita Plant on upper Lake Hamilton.
Crist beat out three other firms in the ranking process city staff used for its recommendation to the board, scoring 88.2 out of a possible 100 points.
"They are the firm that's more familiar with our water-treatment plant than any other firm," City Engineer Gary Carnahan told the board last week.
He said a $4 million cost is estimated to complete the project, which will be financed by the bond issue the board approved earlier this year. The board committed almost $1.2 million of the debt last month to pay a $4.6 million contract for a 3 million-gallon water storage tank. The uncommitted $3.7 million balance from the proceeds of a 2015 bond issue paid for the bulk of the contract.
Another $1.2 million was committed from the 2018 proceeds earlier this month to contract Crist for engineering services related to improvements the city plans on making to dams impounding the city reservoir and three small lakes in Northwoods Urban Forest Park. The city estimates more than $9 million in construction costs, which would also be paid from 2018 bond proceeds.
Crist, the city's water-system consultant, is also in the preliminary stages of designing an intake, raw-water line and treatment plant for the city's Lake Ouachita allocation. The balance of the bond proceeds is expected to finance the design of a 15 million-gallon a day treatment plan, the acquisition of property for the plant site and intake and right of way acquisition for raw and finished waterlines.
The city plans on issuing $90 million of bonds in three installments from 2020 to 2022 to construct the plant and related infrastructure, using revenue from the rate increase the board approved last year to pay down the debt.
The new control system will be indoors, protecting it from weather the existing outdoor control panels are vulnerable to. According to information provided to the board, property across from the plant on Cozy Acres Road will need to be acquired as a location for the switchgear and accompanying equipment.
"The existing switchgear is both limited in control capability and is outdoors, which makes it difficult to operate and maintain, especially in storm events," the action request staff submitted to the board said. "The existing master control center is difficult to service and maintain due to many of the components being obsolete and in many cases no longer available."
Carnahan told the board the new system will be installed this winter, when demand for water is low and parts of the plant can be taken offline. He said the city hopes to have it up and running by spring.
Local on 07/17/2018