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Hubbard gets ready to start plant upgrades
HUBBARD
The city is getting ready to begin a large and costly renovation at its waste-treatment plant on Elmwood Drive.
Phase one of three is expected to start in January, said Christopher M. Kogelnik, an engineer with CT Consultants. It will take nine months to finish.
Kogelnik presented an overview of the project to city council at its meeting Monday.
The engineer’s estimate is $2.2 million, he said. The planning estimate was $1.7 million, and he would expect the project to actually cost about $1.9 million, he told council.
Council is taking on the project voluntarily, before the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates improvements, Kogelnik said after the meeting.
The city took out a loan to cover the first phase, he said.
Kogelnik said the renovation will take place in three buildings, with a new pavilion being built so that a truck with a Dumpster on it can drive in, be loaded with de-watered sludge and take it to an approved landfill.
Among many other upgrades and improvements, the city has to replace the screw presses that press the sludge out of the water, he said. They have worn out.
Plant manager Randy Fabrizio said he is happy with the overall design of the project.
“It doesn’t take a lot of staffing and will serve the city well for the next 20 years,” he said.
The city will begin advertising for bids Friday and plans to open them Dec. 4.