Amador County – PERC Water Corporation plans a September presentation on designing, building, financing and operating a wastewater treatment plant in Ione, as the city works toward a contract with the company.
In June, the Ione City Council voted 3-1 with one abstention to begin negotiation, while the city works toward meeting Cease & Desist Order requirements from the state. New Interim City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said last week that PERC is planning a presentation, while Robertson-Bryan Incorporated, is analyzing alleged seepage in the sewer plant’s pond system, to “clearly identify the nature of the alleged seepage” into Sutter Creek. The work would determine the most appropriate manner to prevent the alleged seepage, such as abandoning storage ponds number 1-4, and having new types of uses for ponds 5-8.
Butzlaff said the city would also work with PERC to see how feasible it is to keep the current sewer system in place. The overall thrust of work is to meet Cease & Desist obligations to improve the existing facility.
Before the June 22 vote, PERC Vice President of Asset Management Bob Nespeca told the Council that he had spoken with “a pretty good sized group” before the meeting about the Design-Build-Finance-Operate proposal, including Councilman Lloyd Oneto. Nespeca spoke with the group at Clark’s Corner, and topics included a Proposition 218 process. He said: “We’re not across the table from you trying to negotiate. We’re on the same side of the table,” as “partners in the project.”
Staff said the Design-Build-Finance-Operate contact is a “public-private partnership” brought about by financing difficulty and is done with a partner on the private side. The agreement would have PERC operate the plant for 30 years, then it turns the project over to the city, at which time it must be operational for 5 years. The only thing they are not paying for is capital costs.
The city must first do a 30 percent engineering of a project before costs will be known, and the size and type of project must be determined before engineering it.
Nespeca said PERC’s initial proposal had a contract and cost, but the number is off the table, and the company and city staff must negotiate a contract. He said the company agreed to build the plant and have it operating for 30 days before the city gets any bill.
He said “we can design and build anything,” including another pond system, “or things beyond anything you have seen before.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham in June said the biggest reason to pursue the contract was the transfer of risk. She voted with Mayor David Plank and Councilman Daniel Epperson to approve negotiations; while Vice Mayor Ron Smylie was against; and Oneto abstained.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
