Construction on the City of Huntsville’s new 2.5 million-gallon elevated storage tank has begun. City Council heard updates to the Bond Proposition 3 City water and wastewater facilities at their most recent regular meeting, June 19.
Three propositions were passed by voters on November 8, 2016. Proposition 1 will improve public safety facilities, Proposition 2 concentrates on City services facilities, and Proposition 3 is centered around the City water and wastewater facilities. Prop. 3 is the first bond project to begin, with improvements to the Palm Street Water Plant that will include pump station updates. The water distribution system will undergo modifications consisting of a new pump station and ground storage tank to separate the city into two systems, designed to keep the pressure even throughout higher and lower elevations. Additionally, the A. J. Brown and N. B. Davidson Wastewater Treatment Plants will be upgraded.
Brent Sherrod, Interim Public Works Director, stated Prop. 3 projects have now been placed under contract and that onsite work would start within the next week. He told the Council the massive elevated storage tank construction would begin first and be completed in January 2020.
“The A. J. Brown Wastewater Treatment Plant is set to begin renovations on July 5 and also be finished in January 2020,” Sherrod said. He noted all water projects are to be done at the same time, as they work in conjunction with each other.
Sherrod said the wastewater improvements at the Elkins Lake Dam lift station are independent of the other systems and would be going out for bid shortly, with expected completion in September 2019.
“Plans for the two pump stations and ground storage tanks are almost final and set to bid at the end of June,” Sherrod said. “Those projects should be finished in February 2020, along with the water lines. All construction should be complete with water flowing through all the lines.”
Mayor Andy Brauninger asked about the budget for the elevated storage tank and A. J. Brown projects already in the works. Sherrod said that the bids had come in well under the estimates and that vendors had responded actively, with more interest in upcoming plans, leading to better pricing for the City. City Manager Aron Kulhavy told the Council that he feels Sherrod has done a good job overseeing the activities.
The Mayor added that some preliminary design work for Prop. 2 is underway on the new police and fire facilities.
“The staff has met with architects and are having ongoing discussions. Everyone is on board to meet target dates for both facilities,” Kulhavy said.
For more information, contact Sherrod at 936-294-5786 or bsherrod@HuntsvilleTX.gov.