Franklin to sign $250,000 TDEC asset plan grant; Hazen & Sawyer amendment to advance South plant work

City staff reported on two items tied to wastewater system planning and ARPA grant reimbursement.

TDEC grant: Staff said the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation awarded a $250,000 contract to update the city's asset management system; an asset management plan is now required to receive some remaining ARPA funds. Staff requested authority to execute the grant contract and return the signed document to TDEC.

Hazen & Sawyer amendment: Staff summarized Amendment 6 to an existing contract with Hazen & Sawyer for evaluation work at the city's South wastewater plant. The amendment totals $766,000; because much of that is reimbursable through the earlier ARPA award, the city’s net cost would be approximately $153,000. The work includes influent flow characterization, solids handling and planning how biosolids from the South plant could be delivered to Claude Yates for processing.

Board members asked for a public update on the Southeast plant and related sewer questions; staff agreed to provide an overview to the board and the public in the coming weeks describing permitting, design and construction timelines.

Outcome: staff will sign the TDEC contract and proceed with the Hazen & Sawyer amendment work; staff will return to the board with a project update.