County approves pump-station upgrades and a $714,000 change order on $46.4M OECC project

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 11 approved multiple infrastructure contracts and a change order for regional wastewater projects.

Eric McPhee, deputy director of operations for the regional sewer district, outlined upgrades to the Trotters Gate Pump Station under Resolution 25-1045. The work will double pump horsepower to improve scouring velocity, improve reliability and extend service coverage from about 187 homes to add another 133. The engineer's estimate was approximately $420,000; the low bid from Peterson Construction Company came in at $397,700. Commissioners approved the contract.

Under Resolution 25-1046, the board approved Change Order #1 on the Olentangy Environmental Control Center (OECC) headworks project. McPhee said the overall OECC project totals about $46,400,000 and the change order adds $714,000 (roughly 1.5% of the total). He said change-order work covered items discovered during demolition and provided time- and cost-savings by using the contractor already mobilized to the site. McPhee also described operational benefits from equipment upgrades, including more efficient blowers and tuned biological treatment that reduce chemical needs by an estimated $5,000 to $6,000 per month in warmer months.

The board also adopted Resolution 25-1047, approving a professional services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer for construction-phase engineering on the North Star Water Reclamation facility upgrade. The engineering fee is $253,600; North Star Residential Development will cover half, leaving the county's share at $126,800.

All three measures were moved, seconded and approved by unanimous vote. Officials said the objective is to meet permitting requirements and to complete work in 2026 where possible; specific construction schedules were not fully detailed at the meeting.