City working on several projects, improvements
The City of Cameron has been working on several notable projects this fall.
“The City of Cameron has been very fortunate to receive the funding through grants and loans for infrastructure replacement,” City Manager Rhett Parker said. “Over the past five years the city has implemented many of these projects and construction is underway.”
Parker said due to the COVID-19 pandemic the closure of state agencies slowed down the administration processes to award construction bids and create notices to proceed with construction. Now many anticipated projects are getting back on schedule.
Airport/Aviation
The city has been working with TXDOT Aviation for the past three years for a runway, lighting, and signage, electrical and PAPI system upgrade.
The project is 90/10 percent grant match where the city contributed approximately $187,000 out of the General Fund to pay for the runway grant rehabilitation.
The airport officially closed Oct. 26 for construction.
The apron and taxiway have been black topped, and the runway is under repairs. A goal was set by the city and Parkhill engineering to have the runway seal coated before the first of the year. The airport may open for day operations as early as December.
The next phase will be adding striping, lighting and PAPI system.
CDBG Project
The Community Development Block Grant, CDBG project was bid out in October 2019 where the city received five bids.
The low bid was $254,775 from Roan Commercial Group out of San Marcos. The council awarded the bid at the Nov. 16 meeting.
The project will include 1330 LF of 6-inch wastewater lines then approximately 140LF of Force Main 6-inch wastewater line.
This will be from Burns Avenue from 17th to 20th Street; and Fannin Street from 22nd to Terrell Court. Then sewer replacements on N. Colfax Avenue from Main to Hwy 190; and then a portion near Patrician Street. Seven manholes will be rebuilt, three refurbished and three cleaned up. And add alternate to the project will be considered to replace a 8-inch wastewater line under city park.
TWDB WASTEWATER
At the Nov. 16 meeting the council approved a notice to proceed and contract from Matous Construction to begin the Solid Handling project, cost $1,157,770.
This is phase 1, that must be done before we tear out the drying bed and begin construction of the new wastewater plant. This is a combination of rehabilitation and new construction. Phase 2 of the rehabilitation of the wastewater plant is $7, 817,917.26 to refurbish and rebuild the existing waste water plant on site.
Lift Stations
Seven lift stations will be rebuilt at a cost of $1,302,585.
The supplies will arrive mid-November, the contractors are Ben Elliot Construction and have been waiting on electrical panels, pumps and wet wells that have been on back order due to COVID-19.
The crew fixed the issue at the Williams Trace lift station this past week. They estimate construction to be completed in February 2021. It should take one to two weeks per lift station.
Total Wastewater TWDB Projects: $10,332,470 ($54,189 for emergencies)
TWDB WATER-Drinking water SRF
A ground storage tank is currently under construction. The first phase is to replace the electrical at the ground storage tank facility, located near library on Milam. This is roughly a $78,000 project just for electrical. The next phase will be relining the underground tanks. Roughly a total project $1,000,000.
The next Water Treatment Plant Phase 2 consist of several upgrades to the Water Treatment plant. Total cost $2,150,000. This is for auto valve replacements, SCADA system, electrical, Recycle pumps station mods and chemical feeds modifications.
The Distribution Line 3 project will replace the Colfax Street water line from Bait to Hwy 190. The cost is $700,000. This will most likely be the last water line replacement project through the TWDB projects. A CDGB project will also replace wastewater lines on Colfax and then the road will be restored when both construction projects have been completed.
The city also has been working on a project near Gillis Street. The new water line has been installed down Gillis Street, however the old line, circa 1890 is still active. Two new insert-a-valves will be installed on the old line with the intentions that this will cut off the old line.
Contractors are currently working on this project. When the old line is cut off, several service lines will be connected into the new line and Gillis project will be finished. Gillis Street will be repaired this summer in the 2021 Seal Coat program.
Little River Pump Station and Water Shed Study
The city submitted Flood infrastructure Fund Grants, FIF and Mitigation Governors Land Office, MIT GLO for the purpose of creating a Water Shed Study on the Little River. The study is needed to evaluate the relocating the Little River Pump stations and dam.
The current infrastructure is in operation however is threatened from being cut off the oxbow during a catastrophic flood or storm event. The depletion of the oxbow has been an ongoing problem.
The city sought recommendations from Freese and Nichols Engineering firm to study the oxbow and make suggestions for infrastructure repairs or relocation. The project is an estimated $15,000,000 to relocate the pump station on the Little River. The Water Shed Study is estimated to be $150,000 project. The FIF grant will possibly provide a low interest loan and 25 percent grant match for the city. The MIT-GLO grant is a very competitive 1 percent infrastructure grant.
Parker said Grantworks is currently working on preparing documents to build the City of Cameron Comprehensive Plan.
The Parks and Street Department has been power washing the Downtown Mall area. It is looking cleaner. A downtown workday is schedule to power-wash all sidewalks on Nov. 21.
The Tourism Board selected a committee to work on bi-laws.
Parker said the Williams Foundation has been very generous to award two grants to the city for a new animal shelter roof and pavilion.
The Working for Cameron organization received funding through the Williams Foundation for the pavilion at Wilson-Ledbetter Park. The new pavilion is located on the southwest corner of the lake.
Chief Lonnie Gosch and Sandra Ritch, Animal Control Officer, are working taking bids for the new roof.
Parker said the City of Cameron would very much like to thank Working for Cameron and the Williams Foundation for their support of the community.