“Groundbreaking” Project Delivery Method Leads to New Brandenburg Wastewater Treatment Plant
Feb 23, 2021
An innovative project delivery approach by the city of Brandenburg in Meade County was the driving force behind a groundbreaking February 5, 2021 for an $8.3 million state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.
The new plant was deemed essential after the Nucor Corporation announced its plan to build a $1.7 billion steel plate manufacturing mill in an industrial park that includes Brandenburg’s existing wastewater treatment plant. Even though government funds were scarce, Brandenburg had to move quickly. Luckily, a 2016 law (HB309) authorized local governments to take advantage of public-private partnerships (P3). The P3 delivery method allows private companies to participate more fully in local infrastructure projects, to include using private sector financing.
“Brandenburg had a serious need,” said Mayor Ronnie Joyner. “We had to build a new wastewater treatment plant that could handle not only the present, but also the future needs of the city. We needed to explore all of our options to find the quickest and most cost-effective way to build this plant.”
Brandenburg turned to law firm Frost Brown Todd (FBT) as their P3 consultants under FBT’s Master Agreement with the Commonwealth. FBT helped guide the city throughout the process, to include issuing a P3 Request for Proposals (RFP) to design, build, and finance the plant, as well as receive other innovative solutions, negotiating the agreement, and facilitating the regulatory approval process with the Finance & Administration Cabinet, Department of Local Government, and Division of Water.
After a competitive procurement process, The Walker Company, a Kentucky-based design and construction firm, in partnership with GRW Engineers Inc. and WP3 Consulting, was selected as the design/build contractor, while Ross, Sinclaire & Associates (RSA) provided the necessary financing in partnership with Kentucky League of Cities Financial Services and the Kentucky Bond Corporation (KBC).
Because of the project’s size, Kentucky’s P3 law required the Kentucky Local Government P3 Board review and approve Brandenburg’s P3 process and agreement. The P3 Board unanimously approved the project, the first it had considered since the Board’s creation. In the end, a third-party study found Brandenburg’s P3 approach will save the city upwards of $3.5 million in costs and a year in project delivery time.
“This approach had not been undertaken by a local government in Kentucky since the enabling legislation was passed,” said FBT attorney Jason Halligan. “The traditional approach of going through state government for grants or loans adds months of waiting, as well as extra costs. We were able to help expedite the project at a significant savings.”
“The approach used here also can be the model for other Kentucky communities who need to build or upgrade infrastructure facilities,” said The Walker Company CEO Jake Schirmer. "I applaud the vision of the leaders of Brandenburg and Meade County for making this project become a reality.”
Brandenburg and Meade County will each fund half of the project, with KBC issuing bonds for the construction project. “This project will be a huge boost for economic development here,” added Meade County Judge Executive Leslie Stith. "The Nucor Corporation is already providing 400 new jobs here. This added treatment capacity is an asset as we recruit other companies to join us and increase opportunities for the people of Brandenburg and Meade County.”
Private funding is an option more communities may take in the future. “There are many private sector capital sources looking for innovative projects in Kentucky in which to provide financing,” added Schirmer. “We are extremely excited to be part of the first, and what we hope to be many, successful P3 developments in our Commonwealth.”
Construction of the new wastewater treatment plant is expected to take 16 months and be operational by June 2022.
More News and Articles
Feb 24, 2021
News
New Jersey American Water Donates $41,000 to United Way Through Virtual Workplace Campaign
New Jersey American Water announced today that its employees raised over $26,000 for eight United Way chapters through its annual fundraising campaign. The company also provided an additional donation of $15,000, totaling over $41,000 to help individuals and families in …
Feb 22, 2021
News
Romania's Pipe Manufacturer TeraPlast Renews ist TEPPFA Membership
TEPPFA, the leading voice of European manufacturers of plastic piping systems welcomes TeraPlast’s decision to renew its membership.
Feb 19, 2021
News
Olea Edge Analytics Expands Partnership with City of Atlanta - Department of Watershed Management
Olea Edge Analytics, an intelligent edge computing platform for the water utility industry, announced an expanded $3.9 million partnership with the City of Atlanta - Department of Watershed Management that is expected to recover millions of dollars in revenue for …
Feb 18, 2021
News
Registration is Open for the 2021 Risk Management in Underground Construction Virtual Course
The 2021 Risk Management in Underground Construction Course will take place virtually on April 13-15. Registration is open and the tentative agenda has been released.
Feb 17, 2021
News
British Water Adds Voice to Diversity Campaign
British Water has become the latest organisation to pledge its support to the Change the Race Ratio campaign to accelerate racial diversity in business.
Feb 16, 2021
News
Anue Water Relocates To Larger Atlanta-Based HQ & Manufacturing Facilities Due To Record Growth
Anue Water Technologies, the manufacturer of cost-effective FORSe and Phantom Oxygen/Ozone injection systems, Enviroprep well-washers, and provider of Anue Geomembrane Covers with embedded carbon-filters and other sustainable and high-performance technologies to prevent odor, corrosion, scale, bacteria, and FOG in municipal …
Feb 15, 2021
News
An Integrated Approach Based on Activated Carbon Removes Trace Substances from Wastewater
Wastewater plants employ a variety of effective and established processes to treat sewage and wastewater. As yet, however, there is no ideal, uniformly recognized method for removing trace substances. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology …
Feb 12, 2021
News
A Free Guide to Combating I&I
Are your current efforts to address I&I successful? Or are you spending resources without much return? Mitigating the issue can feel like an uphill battle when the wrong approach is taken.
Feb 11, 2021
News
Perma-Liner Industries Announces the New UV LightRay LR3
Waterline Renewal Technology, Inc., a portfolio company of Behrman Capital, announced the launch of the new LightRay LR3 from Perma-Liner Industries, which incorporates the latest in UV trenchless technology – significantly reducing the curing time during installations.
Feb 09, 2021
News
Illinois American Water Completes $1.1 Million in Investment Projects at Rosiclare Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant
In the first eight months since acquiring the City of Rosiclare water production system and wastewater system, Illinois American Water has invested approximately $1.1 million in upgrades. These projects are part of the company’s commitment to invest $5 million in …
Feb 08, 2021
News
Itron to Improve Water Efficiency and Reduce Water Losses in Moldova
Floresti Communal Services to Take Advantage of Itron’s Water Operations Management Solution, Fixed Network and Meters to Improve Operational Efficiency and Conserve Water.
Contact
The Walker Company
Nancy Wiser
200 Apperson Heights, Suite 200
KY 40353 Mount Sterling
United States
Phone:
+1 859 227 8850