By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

The Whiteville City Council awarded bids Dec. 12 for the city’s wastewater treatment plant project, and managed to save money at the same time.

The city council approved engineer Leo Green’s suggestion to award the three contracts to Choate Atlantic, Myers Construction, and Barnes and Powell. Green’s company, Green Engineering, designed the new facility.

Choate will receive $7.5 million, Myers $541,000, and Barnes and Powell $1.157 million. The council then approved change orders cutting the cost by $1.067 million,

The contracts totaled $8.592 million after the change orders. The largest of the deletions included $800,000 for a new effluent filter, ultraviolet disinfection system, and post aeration system.

The project has been in the works for several years. The city has increased water and sewer rates, pursued grants and most recently, secured an additional $2 million loan for the effort.

The city’s wastewater plant is more than 30 years old, and might not be capable of handling additional development or service along the line. The city is also upgrading the plant to connect to new wastewater projects at Lake Waccamaw and Bolton.

Councilman Howard Jones pointedly asked Green if the change orders would detract from the project.

Green explained that original plans called for replacing some outdated, but still functioning, equipment.

“It’s old,” he said, “but still in good working order … we will still have the three-million-gallon capacity.”

Green explained that the original plans for replacing some of the facility’s equipment was due to age, not necessarily performance.

“We will need to replace it someday,” he said, “but some of it still performs well.”

Payments will not begin on the loans for the project until six months after its completion, Interim City Manager Doug Palmer explained. Construction should begin early in 2007.