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Consider and take appropriate action with respect to City Council Resolution No. 2025-____, approving the resolution of the Lawton Water Authority authorizing the application of two (2) grant applications and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the applications for the Environmental Protection Agency Federal Communities Grants in the amounts of $4,000,000 and $1,125,000 for the construction of Southeast Water Treatment Plant Sludge Handling Facility.
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INITIATOR: Rusty Whisenhunt, Director of Public Utilities
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: Rusty Whisenhunt, Director of Public Utilities
BACKGROUND: On December 4, 2020, the City of Lawton received Consent Order 20-214 from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) On June 22, 2021, Council awarded a contract to Garver, LLC in the amount of $6,296,700.00 for the design of PU2103 WWTP Improvements Phase 1 Project. The Engineering and Design contract provides full Engineering and Design services for items identified as Phase 1 Improvements in the Final Engineering report approved by City Council on June 8th, 2021. The Final Engineering Report outlined three distinct phases of improvement. Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Garver, LLC incorporates the additional professional services necessary to include the design of a new influent screening structure in the Phase 1 Improvements A new contract with Garver, LLC for design services for the WWTP Improvements Phase II project identified in the approved Engineering report and include the sludge removal designs for the Southeast Water Treatment Plant (SEWTP) that currently cause overloading of the WWTP solids will be authorized. The SEWTP Sludge handling design will stop the sludge being transferred to the WWTP that causes overloading of WWTP. The WWTP Improvements Phase II design will take approximately 15 months to complete. The design is being funded through the CWSRF loan obtained in fall of 2022. The design was awarded to Garver, LLC, on June 27, 2023.
The Alternate Water Supply (AWS) project was identified as use of ground water by drilling wells into the Arbuckle-Timber Aquifer, conveyance system and plant upgrade at the SEWTP. The AWS project was authorized to proceed with phase one of project to produce a minimum of 5MGD potable water for the City of Lawton the first project the Lawton Groundwater Supply - Well Site K (Well No. 1) received bids and on June 8, 2023, City Council awarded the Project. The well #1 after it was completed produces 1.2 MGD of raw water per day. The Lawton Groundwater Supply - Treatment Pilot Project #PU2002 was bid and on April 13, 2023, City Council approved awarding of the project. On May 3, 2023, and May 10, 2023, the City of Lawton Department of Public Utilities advertised for bids for the Lawton Groundwater Supply - Test Well and Production Well Project PU2301 that included drilling of 7 test hole with conversion of 4 test hole to production wells. City Council awarded the construction contract to Associated Environmental Industries, Corp, in the amount of $9,223,500.00 on January 23, 2024. The project has now completed (7) seven test holes and identified (3) three production wells sites in addition to the one production well already completed which will be conveyed to the SEWTP for treatment processes.
The costs for the Sludge handling facility upgrades at the Southeast Water Treatment Plant are estimated at $16 million. The City has also applied for and received $2 million State Designated ARPA Grant for this project. The City is still researching more grant funding for this project; however, the City has funds available through the OWRB FAP Loan for the remaining $10 million.
The Southeast Water Treatment Plant dewatering project is an important plant upgrade required to alleviate strain on the current WWTP facility, increase the efficiency of solids handling for the Alternate Water Supply projects, and aid in the mitigation of solids overloading the wastewater treatment plant. The City of Lawton has been pre-selected as a recipient of this the FY 23 and FY24 Communities Grants. The total amount submitted for FY23 was $5,000,000, however only $4,000,000 has been appropriated to City of Lawton, and the total amount submitted for FY24 was $6,000,000, however only $1,125,000 has been appropriated to City of Lawton. The FY23 and FY24 Grants were submitted on the City of Lawton’s behalf by the Oklahoma Congressional delegation.
This project continues the efforts of a safe community with efficiency for the citizens as put forth in the True North Culture Statement.
EXHIBIT: Resolution No. 2025-____
KEY ISSUES: Does City Council wish to approve the action of the Lawton Water Authority authorizing application for the Environmental Protection Agency Federal Communities Grants in the amounts of $4,000,000 and $1,125,000 for the construction of Southeast Water Treatment Plant Sludge Handling Facility?
FUNDING SOURCE: Matching funds, if required, will be from an FAP loan through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-____ and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the grant applications for the Environmental Protection Agency Federal Communities Grants in the amounts of $4,000,000 and $1,125,000 for the construction of Southeast Water Treatment Plant Sludge Handling Facility.