Seward council approves $123,500 agreement with JEO Consulting for water system master plan

The Seward City Council approved an agreement with JEO Consulting Inc. for a water system master plan at a regular meeting, voting to authorize the study at a cost of $123,500. The presiding official moved to approve the contract and a member seconded; the clerk read the vote as in favor and recorded no opposing votes.

City staff described the item as the final scoping phase of the water system study, noting earlier survey work and field testing of fire hydrants. "This is essentially the final scoping of the water system study," an attending staff speaker said, and added that the master plan will provide recommendations on future extensions and replacements of system components.

Council members did not debate the scope in detail during the meeting. The motion to approve was made from the dais, seconded, and passed as the clerk announced those voting in favor (names were read aloud during the roll call on the motion). The agreement covers consultant work to complete a master plan that staff said will guide decisions on system upgrades and future capital projects.

The contract amount was stated on the agenda at $123,500. No implementation schedule or funding source breakdown was presented during the discussion on the record; those details were "not specified" in the spoken record.

Next steps will be for staff to execute the agreement with JEO Consulting Inc. and proceed with the master planning work, per the approved motion. The city did not state a formal deadline for the study during the meeting.