Explanation
This legislation repeals and replaces Ordinance 3223-2023, which was approved by Columbus City Council on December 4, 2023. That ordinance authorized the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to execute contract modification No. 18 to the Organic Waste Processing Agreement between the City of Columbus (City) and Kurtz Brothers Central Ohio, LLC (Kurtz). Due to miscommunication and drafting errors, it authorized a modification without additional funding, as well as unnecessarily authorized an extension of the contract.
Additional funding is needed to support this contract in fiscal year 2024. The original contract was established as a ten-year contract with the option to renew for five additional years (authorized by Ordinance 1270-2005) at Kurtz’ option, beginning from a contract term start date of December 1, 2010. Kurtz already elected to utilize this option, so Ordinance 3223-2023 did not need to authorize an extension.
The contract modification funds the following services and provisions through December 31, 2024.
Fixed Rate Sewerage Sludge Processing Term:
This modification continues a fixed rate fee of $33.50 per wet ton of sewerage sludge processing for the duration of this contract (10 years + 5 year extension. This contract authorizes the transfer to the organic waste recovery and reuse system of up to 25,000 wet tons of sewerage sludge per year at this rate. This contract provides DOSD with an additional beneficial alternative use option for sewerage sludge.
Log Grinding:
Modification #17, authorized by ORD 2856-2022, added a provision to fund log grinding services utilizing funds originally intended for hauling incinerator ash as part of a beneficial reuse program at the City’s two wastewater treatment plants. Incinerator ash had been historically stored at the treatment plants in lagoons and land filled at considerable expense to DOSD. This program allowed for up to 5,000 tons of wastewater treatment incinerator ash...
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