Politics & Government

Dexter Awards Construction Contract to AZ Shmina for Sludge System Upgrade

The Village of Dexter will begin a $2.8 million renovation of the wastewater system later this year.

The Dexter Village Council awarded a contract to Brighton-based AZ Shmina, Inc. for the renovation of its wastewater treatment plant at its meeting on Monday.

The project is expected to cost $2.7 million and will replace the bulk of the wastewater treatment plant's sludge handling system. Village President Shawn Keough said the agreement is tentative pending approval of the village's loan request from the Michigan State Revolving Loan Fund.

"You can't say you're building a house without having the money to do it," trustee Paul Cousins explained.

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Keough said the loan could be approved as early as September.

To help save on project costs, which were originally estimated at around $2.8 million, the council approved a change order, removing several items from the project, including sludge pump replacement ($37,400), at a cost savings of $115,400.

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"We erred on the side of keeping the items that definitely needed replacing and what items we could take out that wouldn't affect the overall project as a whole," Rhett Gronevelt, municipal group manager for OHM engineering firm said.

According to information provided by the council, the village is required to budget an additional $200,000 for any contigencies with the project. Barring any construction problems, that money can be put toward replacing items left off of the project.

"It's conceivable that we can complete the entire reconstruction within or below budget," Gronevelt said. "If that occurs, then we can look at adding back in the deducted items. It would be desired to still include the pump replacement in the project."

No timeline was given when construction is expected to begin.

In other action:

  • The council renewed the village's contract with the Western Washtenaw Area Value Express shuttle's door-to-door service and community connector service through June 30, 2013.


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