Girard council gives nod to engineering agreement

 The Girard City Council took the first step toward completion of a wide-sweeping infrastructure improvement project when it approved an agreement with a Joplin, Mo., firm for engineering services during a special meeting Monday.
On a motion by Daniel Smith, seconded by Richard Cussimanio, the council unanimously approved the agreement for $7,800 with Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Inc. Chris Erisman, senior project manager and vice-president of the firm, presented the contract for the council's approval.
The company will expand an existing study of the city's water distribution system with an eye toward building new water towers and upgrades to the system.
“We want to look at building upon the study completed last year,” Erisman said. “We've already completed a hydraulic model of the city. Here's the time we can go ahead and use it to identify areas of need within the distribution system.”
Also included in the contract are what Gary Emry, Girard city administrator, has labeled “Quality of Life Improvements. Those include upgrades, consolidation and possible expansion of the city's public works facilities, expansion of the clubhouse at the city golf course and improvements on the existing city-owned basketball and tennis courts.
But the most important aspect of the project involve repairs and upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment system. Addressing deficiencies in the wastewater system has been mandated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
In May, KDHE told the city something had to be done and gave the council until August 1 to hire an engineer. A further deadline of Jan. 1, 2009, was set for the city to file plans with KDHE on how the problems would be addressed.
The May KDHE report noted infiltration of the wastewater system and excessive sludge in the city's treatment lagoons had reduced the efficiency of the system. It's all related to the age of the system, some of which is almost 100 years old or older.
“Investment in sewers is always something that's underground, we can't look out there and say, 'Gosh, we did that,'” said Mayor Maurice Harley. “But it continues to be one of the most discusses issues around the country as communities move forward.”
Allgeier, Martin and Associates was picked for the projects because the firm prepared the initial study of the city's water distribution system in September 2007. At that time, all that was looked at was improvements in storage capacity, which would include the building of one, or possibly two, water towers.
The new study would expand on the work already done to include upgrades to the distribution system made necessary by the potentially-increased water pressure a new storage system would make available.
All the aspects of the study would be done with an eye toward possible future growth of the city, Erisman said. For now, though, engineers would prepare a series of proposals and cost estimates to present to the council. Development of the proposals would include input from city staff regarding needs and wants to be addressed by the projects.
“Once those things are completed, we'll present the options and cost estimates and let you guys decide the direction you want to go and develop your funding strategies,” Erisman said. “There's lots of things you're looking to do and they're probably all needed. We're ready to go whenever you are.”