Bert Rapp
City of Fillmore, Public Works Director

On July 8, 2008 the Fillmore City Council received and rejected one bid on the recycled water conversion work for the Fillmore Middle School and railroad right of way. The one bid was $5.7 million dollars, about $2 million over budget. The Council directed that the project be refined and re-advertised for bids.

On Tuesday September 16th seven new bids were received with the low bid by Union Engineering at $3,585,884, a $2 million reduction in cost. This reduced cost will allow the project to go forward without expending contingency reserves in the Water Recycling Program.

This project is one of the most critical in the Water Recycling Program because it constructs rapid infiltration basins under the Middle School Playgrounds. These rapid infiltration basins will help percolate excess treated water during heavy rain events when discharge to the river will not be allowed.

The work also includes converting the Middle School to recycled water for irrigation and builds an irrigation/disposal field along the railroad right of way from Central Avenue to B Street. This irrigated area will be landscaped with a tall fescue grass that will beautify the railroad corridor.

During the re-bidding the Boyle Engineering team encouraged more contractors to bid on the project, answered their questions and helped them understand the project so the bids would be more competitive. Their hard work paid off with seven bids and a $2 million reduction in cost.

The Water Recycling Program is progressing well. The work is on schedule, on budget and the current projected sewer rate for 2010 lowered by 9%. The Treatment Plant is currently abuzz with many workmen installing equipment, pipes and conduits. The first sewage may begin flowing through the new plant as early as April 2009. The plant is required to be fully operational by September 9, 2009.