Council approves wastewater plant evaluation contract

SANDPOINT — The city has taken a step toward improving its aging wastewater treatment infrastructure.  

City councilors voted unanimously Aug. 7 to contract with Keller Associates for a preliminary engineering report. The contracted work will inform Sandpoint about the cost and feasibility of replacing its wastewater treatment plant. 

According to Mayor Jeremy Grimm, three engineering firms competed for the project. After an interview process, the city selected Keller Associates and negotiated the $432,920 agreement.  

“This is a really exciting step for us,” said Grimm of the preliminary report. “It’s monumental, actually.”  

The need for an upgraded water treatment center has been known for years; in 2019, Sandpoint adopted a replacement plan and estimated the cost of a new facility.  

Today, the facility has deteriorated to a point where improvements are urgently needed. Several council members toured the facility recently and attested to its poor condition.  

“One of the first things I did when I joined this council was to go tour the wastewater facility,” said Councilor Rick Howarth. He described the visit as “not a pleasant tour, but a necessary one.”  

“It's kind of like when you go back east, and you go to Gettysburg — it’s historical.” added Council President Deb Ruehle. “I sort of love the sewage treatment plant, but I'm looking forward to having a nice, shiny new one.”  

Keller Associates, an Idaho-based civil engineering firm with offices in five states, was recommended for the job after three companies submitted statements of qualifications and city officials interviewed two contractors.  

Last October, Keller Associates had a conflict with Moyie Springs after the city contracted with the firm to plan a new wastewater treatment plant.  

Keller Associates began designing the facility in 2019. After buildings were removed from the plan as construction costs rose due to pandemic-related shortages, Keller Associates requested $386,685 to cover the cost of the resulting redesign.  

With an original budget of $673,133, the requested sum represented a 57% project cost increase.  

Moyie Springs officials balked at the request and complained about the firm’s poor communication practices throughout the project, stating that the Keller Associates did not respond to requests for updates for months. City legal counsel recommended that Moyie Springs was not obligated to pay the additional amount.  

Kyle Meschko, manager at Keller Associates’ Coeur d’Alene office and head of the Moyie Springs project, gave the company’s perspective on the situation at last week’s Sandpoint City Council meeting.  

“There was quite a bit of redesign on our effort, and we did that wholeheartedly, hoping that we could get reimbursed for that,” Meschko explained. “The city elected to say, ‘no.’”  

Meschko emphasized Keller Associates’ commitment to transparency and accountability.  

“It's in our best interest to make sure that the budgeting and planning is captured early on, so that it sets the city up for success,” said Meschko. “As far as managing the cost, we understand that's a huge priority in this project.”  

According to Sandpoint’s current timeline for replacing its wastewater treatment facility, construction will follow the preliminary engineering report and facility design. At the current rate of progress, upgrades will be completed close to the end of the decade.