Mount Vernon hires Kokosing Industrial as CMAR for $45M wastewater plant upgrade

The next step has been completed in the wastewater treatment plant improvement project for the city of Mount Vernon.

City Council approved officials entering into a qualifications-based Construction Manager At-Risk contract with Kokosing Industrial, Inc., at its meeting Monday.

Kokosing will be paid a $1.8 million fee to work on the $45 million project, which is being mandated by the Ohio EPA. The CMAR will provide input on cost, constructability and scheduling for the project, working with the city and architect.

The project will address phosphorus discharge compliance requirements from the EPA; improve solids handling and plant reliability; protect the public health and waterways; and prepare the utility for future growth of the city. The design portion of the project is about 30 percent complete, which is why Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers said this is the time to bring on the CMAR.

The EPA requires a significant phosphorus reduction by 2027, which the current facility cannot handle. Salyers said through the update, they will add biological nutrient removal and chemical phosphorus precipitation; introduce redundancy to aging systems and modernize the plant controls.

“This is one of the most important infrastructure investments Mount Vernon will make over the next decade,” said Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers. “It will ensure we meet state and federal requirements; maintain reliable wastewater treatment capacity; and position ourselves for sustainable growth for the future.”

The immediacy of getting the CMAR on board will also help the financial end of the project. The total estimated costs for construction, the CMAR and contingency allowances is more than $46 million. Salyers said that construction costs will continue to rise if they delay this, and that the city has some low-interest financing available now.

The city is pursuing grants and have set a 20 to 30-year repayment structure which includes rate increases for both water and wastewater. Residents would see three years of seven percent increases in their water bills, and three years of 11 percent increases in the wastewater bill.

The facility, which was built in the 1970s, currently treats an average of 3 million gallons of water a day. Pre-construction on the project will last into 2026 with design completion expected the same year. Construction will start later in 2026 with an estimated completion date approximately 740 days later.

“The last time we did something significant to the wastewater treatment plant, people were talking about young upstart Jimmy Carter,” Salyers said. “It’s time to really get in and fix the failing systems in our plant. … Right now, a single failure could interrupt system continuity. These improvements will modernize the facility, enhance storm resilience and prepare the system for another 40 years of reliable operation.”

In other news, council:

•Approved entering into a three-year contract with Knox County for information technology services.

•Authorized the restriction of parking to one side of the street on Mallard Pointe.

•Had first readings of several pieces of legislation, including the possible contract for representative services for the construction of new municipal buildings; advertisting for bids for reconditioning and repair work at the Hiawatha Water Park, CDBG bids for a Riverside Park neighborhood project and Burgess and Hamtramck street reconstruction; and adopting changes to the codified ordinance.

The next meeting will be Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers.