The Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility Commission voted 4-0 Monday to select Crist Engineers to design a pump station between Hazel Street and Taylor Phillips Road and provide construction administration services.
Craig Johnson, an associate engineer with Crist Engineers, discussed the company, which works exclusively on wastewater projects, with utlity commissioners at Monday meeting. He said that at least 90 percent of Crist’s business is with municipalities and that the company has been in business for 78 years.
“We’ve had a long, successful history with Pine Bluff Wastewater as a firm as well as me as an individual,” he said. “Our work dates back to the 60s. We were the original firm that designed your treatment plant Boyd Point and Kansas Street pump station.”
The project will necessitate buying properties. Asked to specify the number of properties in question and whether they are residential or commercial, Johnson replied that that is to be determined based on a study in conjunction with selecting the location.
“As much as we want that process to go smoothly, property acquisition and negotiations sometimes takes a little time,” Johnson said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Rains cause floods in Pine Bluff and overwhelm the pump stations due to the city being very flat, which exacerbates flooding.
“We’ve been aware of this challenge with your utility for two to three years,” Johnson said. “The primary issue has been dealing with the wet weather along the south side of your conveyance system and collection system.”
He said Crist Engineers will bid the project.
Utility general manager Ken Johnson estimates the project will cost between $1.5 million and $3 million. He recommending hiring Crist Engineers. Commissioners Lloyd Holcomb Sr., Carolyn Ferguson, Vandora Demery and Lafayette Woods Jr. voted to do so.
“Crist has experience and expertise and they have worked on large-scale projects like this,” Ken Johnson, who is not related to Craig Johnson, said. “With their history, they know about our system.”
Ken Johnson noted that two other companies Garver and McClelland Engineers submitted proposals for professional engineering services.
The utility generated an additional $1,650,000 through a 2015 rate increase, Ken Johnson said. This revenue will be used to pay for this project, improvements at the Boyd Point Treatment Plant, and to increase the operations and maintenance expenses for an aging collection system dating back to 1888.
In related news, Ken Johnson asked the commission to transfer $750,000 to a construction account. The commission voted to do so.
In finance news, Ken Johnson showed the utility spent $483,198.06 and took in revenue of $627,647.65 in February.
“We are rocking along and we are on track and on budget,” Ken Johnson said.
Commissioner Paul Bennett was absent.