Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Siemens Water Technologies in connection with the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Cover Rehabilitation Project, as authorized under an emergency declaration issued by the Mayor on June 6, 2007.
On the morning of Thursday, May 31, 2007 personnel of the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant detected a potential safety problem at the plant's Biosolids Digester No.3, in the form of highly flammable methane gas leaking from the digester's inflatable cover. The plant personnel immediately evaluated the situation and it was discovered that the gas was leaking through an old repair in the outer "fail-safe" membrane of the two membranes which constitute the cover. The unit was then shut off from the general gas supply system. Immediately thereafter, they conducted a further inspection and discovered the following; 1.) The larger steel "gas well" at the top of the cover had dropped suddenly in the supporting geodesic dome structure, bending and breaking some of the dome's structural elements; 2.) Both inflatable membranes had sustained sufficient damage to make their repair infeasible; and 3.) The damage to the dome, gas connecting piping, and bridge supports will take the structure out of service until conclusive rehabilitation can occur.
On Friday, June 1, 2007, the damaged membranes and gas well were removed. The biosolids in the digester are being removed to the plant's disposal process, and the remaining grit and debris will be cleaned out of the vessel as soon as possible.
Although the surrounding area is now safe from explosion from this source, hazards will still exist until repairs and replacements are completed. This inactive Digester will also substantially reduce the capacity of the plant, endangering the City's ability to treat wet weather flows as mandated by Ohio EPA. It is the belief of the Department of Public Utilities that steps be taken in order to begin work immediately, including demolition and ordering specialty materials, and to return this essential process unit to service thereby restoring the plant to full treatment capacity. The cost of the rehabilitation will be up to $1,200,000.00. Due to the fact that a hazard still exists and that the inoperable Digester will have a significant impact on the plants treatment capacity a Mayor's Emergency Letter was signed by the Mayor's Office on June 6, 2007.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE NO.:
Contract Compliance No.: 043063901
Effective End Date: 11/13/2008
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
The Division of Sewerage and Drainage requests that City Council concur in the declaration of this ordinance as an emergency measure in order to reduce the impact the inoperable Digester will have on the plants treatment capacity, to eliminate any possible related hazards that still exist from its current condition, and to allow for the payment of the materials authorized under the Mayor's Emergency Declaration of June 6, 2007.
4. FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the transfer and appropriation of funds from the Sanitary Sewer Reserve Fund for this expenditure. The 2007 Capital Improvements Budget is amended for this expenditure upon passage of this ordinance. Monies for this modification are provided from a proposed Fall 2007 Bond Sale via the transfer detailed in this ordinance.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Siemens Water Technologies for the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Cover Rehabilitation Project; to authorize the transfer and appropriation of $1,200,000.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Reserve Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 within the Voted Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund; to amend the 2007 Capital Improvements Budget, for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage; and to declare an emergency. ($1,200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on May 31, 2007 personnel of the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant detected a potential safety problem at the plant's Biosolids Digester No. 3, in the form of highly flammable methane gas leaking from the digester's inflatable cover, and
WHEREAS, the plant personnel immediately evaluated the situation and it was discovered that the gas was leaking through an old repair in the outer "fail-safe" membrane of the two membranes which constitute the cover. The unit was then shut off from the general gas supply system, and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2007, Siemens and City staff met at the Jackson Pike plant to confirm the apparent limits of the failures, and determine the probable limits of the scope of rehabilitation required; and
WHEREAS, because possible hazardous conditions still exist and the Biosolids Digesters are so critical to the operation of the Jackson Pike plant's treatment capacity a Mayor's Emergency was processed and signed by the Mayor's Office on June 6, 2007, and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted waiving the requirements of competitive bidding of Columbus City Code Section 329, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer and appropriation of funds from the Sanitary Sewer Reserve Fund to the Voted Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund for purposes of providing sufficient funding for this project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2007 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage and Drainage in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Siemens Water Technologies for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a contract for the construction of the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Cover Rehabilitation Project, Capital Improvements Project No. 650250, to Siemens Water Technologies, 1901 S. Prairie Ave., Waukesha, WI 53187, in the amount of $1,200,000.00 in accordance with the Columbus City Code Section 329.27.
Section 2. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the requirements of competitive bidding per Columbus City Code Section 329.
Section 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Sanitary Sewer Reserve Fund No. 654, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources, and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, the sum of $1,200,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the Division of Sewerage and Drainage: Division 60-05 | OCA Code 901654 | Object Level One 10 | Object Level Three 5502.
Section 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $1,200,000.00 to the Voted Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund 664, into the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Digester Cover Rehabilitation Project, Project No. 650250, at such time as deemed necessary by the Auditor, and to expend said funds, or so much thereof as may be necessary.
Section 5. That the $1,200,000.00 is hereby appropriated for Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Cover Rehabilitation Project, within the Voted Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund | Fund 664 | Division 60-05 | Project 650250 | OCA Code 664250 | Object Level Three 6624.
Section 6. That upon obtaining other funds for the purpose of funding sanitary sewer system capital improvement work, the City Auditor is hereby authorized to repay the Sewer System Reserve Fund the amount transferred under above, and said funds are hereby deemed appropriated for such purposes.
Section 7. That the said firm shall perform the work to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Utilities and the Administrator of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage.
Section 8. That the expenditure of $1,200,000.00, or as much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Voted Sanitary Sewer Bond Fund No. 664 | Division 60-05 | Project 650250 | OCA Code 664250 | Object Level Three 6624.
Section 9. That the 2007 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance No.0733-2007 is hereby amended as follows, to provide sufficient budget authority for the modification of the contract stated herein.
Project No. | Project Name | Current Authority | Revised Authority | (Change)
650250 | JPWWTP Digester Cover Rehab. | $0.00 | $1,200,000 | (+$1,200,000)
650258 | Facilities and Equipment Upgrade for WSST | $314,128 | $0.00 | (-$314,128)
650625 | Beulah Road Trunk Sewer Rehab | $644,792 | $60,652 | (-$584,140)
650666 | Sharon Heights Area Sanitary Improve. | $594,806 | $293,074 | (-$301,732)
Section 10. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project by monies from more than one source.
Section 11. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
Section 12. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure which shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.