Pleasanton council approves water study, seeking bids for water plant roof

City crew members have stabilized the supporting beam that holds up the roof on this building, which contains Pleasanton's water plant filters and clarifying systems. The city council on Monday voted to allow the engineering firm to advertise for bids on the project. (Journal file photo)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

rsims@linncountyjournal.com

PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council on Monday, April 6, voted to follow a recommendation by its engineering company to pay $5,000 to have the on-call engineer for Public Whole Water Supply District No. 13 perform a feasibility study of becoming a second water supply for the city. The evaluation will determine what volume and pressure this district can provide, including needed improvements.

The move came after the council heard a report from Jason Hoskinson from BG Consultants Inc. about the status of several projects that company is working on for Pleasanton.

Of immediate concern is the plans for the city’s water plant. The state of the building that houses the water filters and clarification system became a major issue earlier this year when the council received a report that the building was in danger of collapse.

Because the city currently has no backup supply, the possibility of a roof collapse could put the city’s water system out of business for an indefinite period. Last month, Hoskinson delivered plans to repair a collapsing beam and post, and according to city administrator Becky Hegwald on Friday, April 10, city crews had stabilized the post and beam that supported the roof structure.

Hoskins said that the design for the roof replacement project was 95% complete and could go out for bid as early as this month. He said the new design using trusses to span the width of the building would do away with the post-and-beam support currently in place.

He also noted that much of the electrical conduit and wiring in place on the ceiling of the filter building was no longer in use and could be removed. He also said that a chimney on the building led to some rotting and would be removed.

Hoskinson said that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified about the project but has still not received feedback from the agency. He said KDHE would be looking into the quality of work that will be done on the structure.

The bid specifications will also seek bids on two alternates: an asphalt shingle or metal roof, he said.

Councilmember Kenny Stark said he was concerned that the new roof structure would be compromised by moisture in the filtration building. However, Hoskinson said the new design would addreess that issue.

The council voted unanimously to allow BG Consultants to go out for bids once the plans are complete.

Hoskinson estimated the the project would take two to three months to complete.

It is expected that the scope of the project will mean filling the city's towers and then temporarily shutting down the plant during the process.

With regard to other projects with the engineering firm:

The council voted unanimously to allow BG Consultants to seek bids on repairs to the dam on Stegge Lake. The company will advertise for bids once the bidding documents are complete.

Hoskinson said the design process is underway for the project including partial base repairs on Ash Street between 13th and 15th street, as well as paving all of Ash Street between 1050 Road and 17th Street, and all of Cedar Street from Fourth Street to 10th Street. Partially funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the project is expected to be ready for bids as early as later this month or May.