Cloverdale council affirms water project process

CLOVERDALE — Cloverdale is moving forward with what is to be a major component of a comprehensive water improvement plan.

Settling a consideration brought at its regular meeting this month, the Cloverdale Town Council approved Orleans-based Reynolds Construction for a build-operate-transfer (BOT) process at a special session on Monday.

The move entails the town eventually receiving wastewater from Lieber State Recreation Area, as its treatment plant is set to be decommissioned. BOT is a procurement and delivery method for projects geared toward developing facilities in public-private partnerships.

Town Attorney Richard Shagley noted that requests for qualifications were recently sent out, to which only Reynolds responded. He added that with it having undertaken similar projects statewide and nationally, he provided that Reynolds was “more than qualified.”

As such, the council approved Resolution 2023-4 allowing for Reynolds to work with Eric Smith of HWC Engineering on the design of the project, as well as determining a ceiling cost.

“This basically starts the process of us (HWC) working with them,” Smith said at the meeting.

Smith related that Reynolds is to work with HWC on scoping out the project. Essentially, Reynolds would advise on constructibility and equipment as such. A contract between the firm and the town would be considered once the ceiling cost is set.

Smith noted that Reynolds would be functioning at risk as the project is developed. Meanwhile, HWC is working on securing permits for the project.

The wider project entails replacement and rehabilitation of multiple mains in the town, as well as improvements at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

In other business:

• The council passed a formal motion approving for JAMRR Excavating to continue with the relocating of a forced wastewater main at U.S. 231 and County Road 800 South.

• The council approved a request by a Cloverdale teacher to include a water booster station along Cemetery Road in the Putnam County Mural Project. The approval was stipulated by the council wanting to see a plan for the design.

• Waiving the second reading, the council approved Ordinance 2023-2 for Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners to create a fund to hold $100,000 of economic development income tax (EDIT) money. The money was given by the county to go toward a town project.

Council Vice President Brice Howell, Councilman Scott Stierwalt and Town Marshal Steve Hibler were absent at the meeting.