The City of Williamsport will buy a pool filter for $268,804 using the American Rescue Plan to get the pool ready for the summer opening.
City Council authorized the purchase of the filter and using the rescue plan funds in the public works future line item.
The original system was installed in 1971, said Scott Livermore, director of city Public Works Department. The filter is similar to what was installed recently at Lycoming College.
Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said the filter is necessary and asked Livermore how long it would take. She was told it would take a month or so.
Levee pump station design contract awarded
Council awarded levee pump station design services to GPI Engineering for $60,000.
The company staff will design the automated switch gear and back up generators at three pump stations. Payment will be through the American Rescue Plan.
That leaves $1.7 million left in the levee designation of rescue plan funds, said Jon Sander, city engineer.
The construction management part, which was not what was decided on by council, is estimated to cost between $1 million and $1.3 million.
The switch gear is vital as the pump stations are inspected annually and have at times not turned on, Sander said. Fortunately, the city electrician was able to turn them on in time for the inspections, he said.
Councilman Eric Beiter asked Sander and the administration for a flow chart showing what projects on the levee are done, which are underway and which are planned and which entity either performed the work or is scheduled to. He also wanted to see a financial breakdown on expenses thus far, anticipated expenses and potential revenue sources for the repair projects.
This design of the switchgear and backup generators went through the proper request for proposals and was reviewed by the city solicitor Austin White.
Additionally, the design bid for the contract was reviewed by UHY, a company working on behalf of the city to review the legitimate expense of the American Rescue Plan fund.
Generators, however, are on back order by about nine months, Sander noted.
Now that the contract was approved by council GPI mechanical and electrical engineers can start their work.
Sander said he anticipated that process to take six months before a bid will be put out for the equipment at the pump stations.
Councilwoman Katz also asked, similar to Beiter, for a breakdown on how much money has been expended over the years toward the levee recertification.
Sander said he is researching a potential $700,000 funding source through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a fourth pump station repair.
He noted how consulting firm Keller Partners and Co. of Washington, D.C., continues to pursue that funding source and others.
Councilwoman Liz Miele described how the complexity of the levee recertification has been amplified over the years as climate change has added variables to the project. Allison noted how at one time the city Streets and Parks and Flood Control staff numbered 11 and that is down to two or three at this time.
“We’re undermanned,” he said.
The reality is the city can’t alone be responsible nor can it fiscally be responsible for the long-term maintenance of the levee, he said. There are efforts to see the feasibility of a levee authority that would spread those costs and responsibilities over several municipalities.
“This is not just a city issue,” he said. A similar levee authority is working at a community one hour from the city and is working out well.
“We’ve got to just get the job done and do it,” Katz said of the continuing talks to consider how and whether to form a levee authority.
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