Commission approves PEC to head up sewer plant design

It's official.
    Wichita-based Professional Engineering Consultants will provide design and oversight for the construction of Dodge City's new wastewater treatment plant, slated to be constructed about one mile north of town.
    The contract, which caps the money paid to the company to $3,245,000, was approved Monday night during the Dodge City Commission's regularly scheduled meeting.
    Joe Finley, director of engineering services for the city, told the Daily Globe Tuesday that the contract placed PEC into a design-build agreement. This essentially means that rather than jump through all the usual hoops for a massive construction project, the city, PEC and a chosen contractor would design future construction as early work was already underway.
    An early report from the company offered a 48-month timeline to design, let, and construct a new wastewater reclamation plant — a plant which officials say is necessary before any large developments such a casino or special events center could be built.
    However, after the state gave Olathe-based Butler National Corp. its initial nod to design, build and manage a state-owned casino in Ford County, Butler said they planned to have the casino up and running within 36 months.
    The 12 month difference pushed the city to look at the design-build plan.
    "We started looking at ways to cut time," Finley said. "It (the plant) has to be up and running before the hotel, restaurant and casino go online."
    With a normal construction contract, a designer would draw up 100 percent of the plans, float it by city officials for any adjustments, then begin taking bids for the project. The design-build is just a bit more fly-by-the-seat.
    Within 9 months, PEC is expected to have 30 percent of its plans drawn up. From there, the city will chose a contractor, who will help the city pick apart the design plans. Once a workable plan is reached, early construction begins on the first 30 percent while the remaining 70 is further developed.
    "Basically, it's like we're designing in the field rather than in an office," Finley said.
    City Clerk Nannette Pogue said this could mean prices would vary as each package of work was completed.
    And while this would shave off time, it presents some unique challenges to the city.
    "It's doable," Finley said. "But, it's going to take a larger chunk of staff time meeting with the design team and contractor."
    This isn't the first time PEC has done work within Dodge City. Its Wichita branch was instrumental in the expansion of Dodge's current sewage treatment plant south of town. It has also played a major part in designing Dodge's most recent wells.
    Pogue said no concrete timeline had been set for the completion of the plant.

Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9908 or e-mail him at mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com.