City approves wastewater plant funds

The City of Green River will move forward with spending additional funds to complete the new wastewater treatment facility.

During Tuesday's Green River City Council Meeting, a motion for the revision to the service agreement with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company for the new wastewater treatment facility in the amount of $789,612 was once again proposed and, despite continuing opposition by some residents, passed unanimously by the council. The motion was originally brought to the council during their April 1 meeting. However, after much discussion, it was tabled for a later date, and brought up again this week.

The city initially signed a professional service agreement in 2017 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Facility project with Burns and McDonnell Engineering.

The amendment to the agreement not only included the extended time frame of construction, but also requested an additional $789,612 in order to complete the funding. Green River resident and local industrial contractor Phillip Stanton had questions concerning the amendment during the meeting.

"Our kids will be the ones paying for this increase in the future," he said. "You're looking at the cost of the sewer bills increasing to $90 or more in the next two years. Why not go back to the drawing board and do a little negotiation? What happens when the bill isn't paid, and you vote no, will they just walk off the job?"

Stanton also questioned the checks and balances.

"Are the engineers being checked on by the city?" he asked. "Are you working to ensure the city is getting a bang for its buck?"

Director of Public Works Mark Westenskow assured Stanton that the construction site is managed well by both the city and the job foreman. Westenskow also reiterated the time frame is over the next seven months for completion, and that the funds will cover the remainder of the work and in fact may not be used in their entirety.

Council Member Sherry Bushman followed up with Stanton's questions commenting on the legality of the situation.

"The original contract has the language of rate adjustments, so we are legally obligated," she noted.

The Wastewater Treatment Facility is set for completion in January 2026.