MEMORANDUM

To:     Mike Wildgen

          City Manager

From: Jeanette Klamm

          Residuals Coordinator

Re:     Agenda item

Date:  July 14, 2005

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the next available meeting (July 26^th):

Project Description.  The City’s anaerobic digesters are recommended for cleaning out periodically to maintain the required detention time and operational capacity, as well as for structural examination and necessary repairs. Staff is recommending approval of the digester cleaning project at the wastewater treatment plant to be completed approximately September/October 2005 as proposed by Nutri-ject Systems Inc.

Project Description/History.  The periodic cleaning of the wastewater treatment plant digesters was included in the 2005 budget. This activity was previously done in 2001.  The contractor for that project was also Nutri-ject and was satisfactorily completed at that time.

Project Status.  An RFP was conducted for this project as per the City’s RFP procedures. Careful review of the submitted proposals concluded that Nutri-ject Systems Inc. was the most qualified, offered an acceptable method, and was the most economical in price.  

Project Details. The digester cleaning includes the pumping down of the remaining solids, screening and removal of any inorganics for transport to a land fill and land applying the remaining organic solids. This includes the washing (hosing) of the inside of the digesters, following all confined space entry and OSHA regulations that apply.  Nutri-ject, who currently holds the land application contract also, has done a good job for the City and has been very responsive to our needs and requests over the last 5 years, as well as consistently offered us an excellent price when compared to other projects of similar scope and size. The project would begin in September/October 2005 and be completed within approximately 2 months. This would include cleaning of one digester, time allowance for staff to switch digesters, then completion of the second digester. 

The proposed price per gallon is $.0301 per gallon. Due to the unknown nature of the digester’s condition, the volume to be removed is estimated at 1.8 million gallons. The budget estimate was approximately $45,000, which we would anticipate remaining less than.

A copy of the contract is attached for reference.

Project Funding.  Digester cleaning was budgeted in the 2005 operating budget under other contractual services line item.

Action Request.   Staff is recommending that the City Commission authorize the City Manager to enter into this contract with Nutri-ject Systems, Inc. for $45,000  for the cleaning of the wastewater treatment digesters.