By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer | jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
With a continued eye on growth, the Woodruff City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to approve a contract with Harper Construction for the first phase of a $10+ million expansion of the wastewater treatment plant.
City Manager Lee Bailey told the council that the project is needed to expand the plant’s capacity to handle the city’s future population increase. The plant would expand to handle 2.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.
The first phase is expected to cost between $10 million and $11 million, which will be paid for by a $10 million grant from the state revolving fund. The city was awarded the grant from COVID funds in 2022.
“We are in a really good position to build out phase one,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the contract with Harper is for $11.3 million, but the final cost of phase one is expected to be around $10.2 million.Phase two would include equipping the expanded facility. The city continues to seek other grants and funding sources to complete the project. Bailey said he hopes the city will be able to complete the expansion without adding any debt to its ledgers.
In other business, the council:
Approved the second readings or ordinances to annex 15.03 acres at 2060 Old Orchard Road and zone it as industrial. There is no current project planned for the site.
Approved the second reading of an ordinance to adopt new and revised flood damage prevention regulations to be in accordance with changes to state law.
Approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the current business license ordinance to update the class schedule in accordance with changes to state law.
Bailey also provided some updates to the council, including that the new playground equipment has started to be installed at McKinney Park and should be done by the end of March. The new downtown parking lot behind the buildings on the east side of Main Street is expected to be completed in a few weeks and add 53 new spaces.
Woodruff City Council meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. They are open to the public, and the next meeting will be held on March 25.
Author: Tracy Sanders
