HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Reallocation of CIP funding from Northwood Lift Station to East 30 Lift Station RESOLUTION NO. 17-083
RESOLUTION APPROVING REALLOCATION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
PLAN FUNDS FROM NORTHWOOD LIFT STATION TO EAST 30 LIFT STATION
FOR THE CITY OF AMES
WHEREAS, during the construction of improvements to the East 30 lift station project, new
factory tested pumps did not achieve the designed flow rates when they were installed in the field;
and,
WHEREAS, the pumps discharge into an existing force main installed in the 1950s that ties
the lift station back to the gravity sewer in the Youth Sports Complex; the engineering consultant
for the project conducted some investigations and determined a possible blockage of the force main
as the likely cause of the poor pump performance; and,
WHEREAS, in 1994 when the Dayton Avenue overpass was installed, a portion of the force
main was replaced; however, over 1,760 feet of original force main under the South Skunk River
remains in place; and,
WHEREAS, an engineering estimate to replace the force main is $150,000; staff investigated
the possibility of utilizing the same State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan used for the East 30 Lift
Station improvements as a source of funding, but this would exceed the authorized maximum dollar
amount of the loan and would result in increased costs to modify the loan; and,
WHEREAS, while the pumps are not operating efficiently and are outside the recommended
operating range, they are still functioning and the force main has remained in service; and,
WHEREAS, because of the inefficient pump performance and the likelihood for a
deteriorating force main, staff prefers to address the issue proactively instead of waiting for an
emergency failure of the force main; however, no fiords have been appropriated for this project; and,
WHEREAS, one way to address this funding issue without impacting the Sewer Fund
balance is to reallocate the fiends budgeted for the Northwood Lift Station Project to the East 30 Lift
Station Force Main Project; and,
WHEREAS, the FY 2015/16 Capital Improvements Plan included a project to perform a
routine equipment replacement at the Northwood Lift Station; this lift station has functioned reliably
for years with a single pump and the proposed equipment replacement retained the same design; and,
WHEREAS, Staff has attempted to obtain a construction permit from the Iowa Department
of Natural Resources (IDNR) for the equipment replacement, but was told that a permit could not
be issued; and,
WHEREAS, current IDNR design standards require redundant pumps to provide a backup
should one pump fail, and the existing lift station cannot accommodate two pumps without
substantial modification; and,
WHEREAS, enlarging the existing wet well would require significant cost to the City due
to the location of the wet well(in a sidewalk and along a steep embankment), and the existing single
pump design has dependably served 11 properties and staff has a backup pump in stock should there
be an issue; and,
WHEREAS, because of the unanticipated cost, staff is recommending this project be tabled
until the wet well has reached the end of its useful life or a more cost effective retrofit solution can
be found that would be permitted by IDNR
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that authorization of the reallocation of$212,000 from the Northwood Lift Station CIP project for
replacement of the East 30 Lift Station Force Main Project is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 28t' day of February, 2017.
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Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
Introduced by: Beatty-Hansen
Seconded by: Corrieri
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin,Nelson, Orazem
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 28th day of February, 2017.