Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week awarded 2 contracts for wastewater system improvement projects on city facilities, but the work is contingent on the availability of federal funding through the state. The city last year qualified for $2.25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and now is waiting for those funds to come through. Gloria Stoddard said Friday that the council awarded 2 “construction and professional services contracts” for wastewater improvements. The council approved resolutions authorizing City Manager Dixon Flynn to execute the project documents. They awarded a wastewater treatment plant “Phase 1” improvement project to Ford Construction. They also awarded a wastewater collection system repair project to Twain Harte Construction. Start of the projects is contingent on the state making the funding available. The California Revolving Loan Fund program will disperse the funds, and Prima said in September that the state found that Plymouth is eligible for a “principal forgiveness” loan – a grant – due to low household income. The council authorized the advertisement for bids in October, after Engineering Consultant Richard Prima told the city council he was confident the city could maintain and complete an aggressive but stringent schedule of work to meet the deadline for a grant award January 29th. Prima said the bid package had to be succinct because the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act grant allows changes, and “any change orders will be done on our own nickel.” Plymouth qualified for a grant for its sewer system improvement, in the amount of $2.25 million. Prima said qualifying paperwork included a “report of waste discharge,” and a “sludge plan.” The city must remove sludge from some ponds at its sewer plant at its own expense, because the work is considered routine maintenance for the operation of the system. The grant will nearly cover the update of the city’s ailing sewer system. Prima said the city will have to pay for nearly $200,000 of the work considered ongoing and necessary maintenance. Prima said the projects should lift a wastewater “cease and desist” order on the system that dates back to 2005. The plant, located about two miles west of the city, treats, stores and disposes of up to 170,000 gallons a day of wastewater. After failing to submit certain technical reports in June 2005, the city paid a $20,000 fine by August of that year. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.