Operations and Resources Committee
Great Lakes Water Authority
Environment
Utilities
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023
11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. EDT
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Bridget Scallen
A contract for seawall rehabilitation at Belle Isle's freshwater intake gets a time and cost increase from GLWA committee.
Hello, Detroit,😶🌫️Today at 11am I will be covering the @glwatermi Operations and Resources Committee meeting for @DetDocumenters. Our media partners are @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit. #DetDocumenters
09:48 AM Oct 11, 2023 CDT
The public is welcome to tune-into this meeting remotely; please see zoom info here: . glwater.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
glwater.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
Here is the agenda for today's meeting. An accessible agenda is also posted, at this webpage: . glwater.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
glwater.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
If your thirst is whet (pun intended :)) in past @glwatermi meetings, our #DetDocumenters coverage is available at . detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
@glwatermi The chairperson calls the meeting to order. Quorum is reached. Minutes from August 9 meeting are approved. First call for public comment: 11:01am, second call for public comment, 11:02am, final call for public comment, 11:02am. No hands seen, no public comment is made.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Proposed Amendment No. 3 Contract No. 1901555 Snow Removal and De-Icing Services. Chairperson asks if we always had outside contractor doing snow removal. Ms. Porter responds she believes we've always had outside support for snow removal. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Proposed Amendment No. 3 Contract No. 1902702 Furniture, Flooring and Space Design Services O&M. Mostly things like chairs for high-usage areas. New RFP planned for next year. Chairperson asks if other contractors who have access to this furniture.
@glwatermi There are other contractors who have access to this furniture, one of the procurement specialists responds. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Contract No. 2204058 Grounds Maintenance Services O&M. Cost difference due to rise in labor & fuel costs, 12 additional sites, additional services based on GLWA experience. Baker of Macomb asks if properties are new, Ms. Porter says she will check.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Proposed Change Order No. 1 Contract No. 2001488 7 Mile/Nevada Transmission Renewal Project CIP #122017 / BCE Score: 84.2. GLWA had found a distressed pipe. Chairperson asks Porter to explain alternatives to Design-Bid-Build (progressive design build).
@glwatermi *They are two different methods.* Tim Kuhns explains progressive design build is where designer & contractor are brought on at the same time, same contract. Significant budget remains on project in 7 Mile hence this proposal on discovered distressed pipe. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Proposed Change Order No. 1 Contract No. 2004825 Construction Manager at Risk for 96-Inch Water Transmission Main Relocation CIP #122004 / BCE Score: 65.2. Engineering team thought they could get cost savings w/ Design-Bid-Build, indeed $68M cost savings.-
@glwatermi Baker of Macomb asks the final cost will be much lower, right? Porter and Kuhns clarify budgets for the different stages. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Proposed Change Order No. 1 Contract No. 2101255 Belle Isle Seawall Rehabilitation CIP #116005 / BCE Score: 63.4. This order is a cost increase. - Place where we can do pre-treatment for zebra mussels to address potential taste and odor issues.
@glwatermi - We're noticing we've seen the seawall fail. "It's worse than they thought" [when they went down to do the underwater survey], says Porter. Sea level rise is an ongoing concern.
@glwatermi Chairperson asks about original contract (Oct 2022), receives info there were five other bidders at that time. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Contract No. 2201316 Reservoir Rehabilitation Construction Phase II CIP #170802 / BCE Score: 74.2. It's a new proposal, to ensure protection of water reservoirs as required by the State. GLWA plans to inspect structures on 5-year cycle. Motion passes.
@glwatermi Chairperson says "after the fact" Q: there are 30 of these reservoirs, this contract is for 14, asks if same company has the contract for the other reservoirs. Kuhns says Pullman was prior contractor.
@glwatermi Ms. Porter introduces Contract Nos. 2204731-1 and 2204731-2 As-Needed Pump Repair Services for Water Treatment Plants O&M. This is three-year contract for one-year renewals for three types of pumps at five locations, to support maintenance team to rehab pumps "when they go out."
@glwatermi Baker of Macomb asks about the two other bidders. Sonya Collins of Procurement team says they were disappointed they did not receive bids from other contractors, had not received response to reach-out. Also: More money to lower-ranked vendor and higher-priced. Why is that?
@glwatermi Collins of Procurement responds to Baker that they'll be revisiting that in the future, explains there are no minimums or maximums guaranteed/required. Motion passes (11:29am).
@glwatermi Navid Mehram introduces Contract No. 2303191 Clarifloc DPA-7-0335 O&M. Mehram explains polymer is added to sludge to help improve dewaterability (such as incineration). GLWA does bench-testing in this area, hence specialty.
@glwatermi Mehram, the COO, introduces Proposed Change Order No. 2 Contract No. 2003330 HVAC and Odor Control Improvements, Oakwood CSO CIP #260618/BCE Score: 20.0. It's an extension of contract duration for insurance purposes. No-cost change order.
@glwatermi Chairperson asks for the BCE(?) number to be put into context. Mehram says projects that are ancillary to process may get a low BCE(?) score, but they are still health & safety issue and equipment reliability issue. Chairperson says he sees Baker smiling, invites him to speak.
@glwatermi Mehram introduces Contract No. 2203638 Engineering Project Management and Inspection Staff Augmentation O&M. GLWA has been successful recruiting several lifecycle project managers, handing off projects from AECOM to GLWA project managers, to continue delivering on CIP commitment.
@glwatermi Mehram says GLWA is continuing to recruit [attn new-job seekers skilled in inspections/engineering]. Baker asks how many FTEs does Mehram think this gets us per year? Mehram turns over to director of engineering who responds 3-5 FTEs of inspection and engineering, 6-10 total.
@glwatermi Chris Nastally, who had responded to Baker's Q, works in the role of director of wastewater engineering . linkedin.com/in/chrisnastal…
linkedin.com/in/chrisnastal…
@glwatermi Baker notes they'd be paying senior contractor $242/hour (? check the transcript). Baker says "it seems costly," we've brought people in-house to save money. Mehram says he did compare rates to AECOM, "these rates are better than AE rates." Says it's a contract *limit*-
@glwatermi Mehram says for us the focus is on project management as we offboard AECOM. Baker: Why can't we bring these people in-house? Bill Wolfson: "Particularly for construction inspectors, demand is well outpacing the market." He also highlights org. efforts on progression/retention.
@glwatermi Suzanne Coffey says "I see this as a bridge." Baker asks if we've added any inspectors in the past three years? Wolfson says yes, he doesn't have the data at the moment but can get it later.
@glwatermi Chairperson asks Wolfson and Mehram if we can get that info for next meeting, how many inspectors were hired and how many left in wastewater. Baker: "I think management understands where I'm coming from, trying to bring more stuff in-house... especially when we have FT work."
@glwatermi Baker: This is less than AECOM, but still not okay for him. Chairperson: Never mind, Bill (Wolfson). Baker: I'm just not happy. Chairperson: I'm not happy either, but I'm going to vote for it. Motion passes. Baker voted no.
@glwatermi Wolfson introduces Item L (added at the beginning of the meeting): Proposed Meeting Schedule for this Committee in 2024. No questions. Motion passes.
@glwatermi 9. Reports: There are no reports. 10. Look-Ahead. 11. Information. 12. Other Matters: John Zech says he is glad to return to "home court" as nice as the church was, for meetings. Motion to adjourn passes.
@glwatermi For reference, here are the two methods that Committee mentioned, and that the Chairperson asked a director to distinguish for attendees: Design-Bid-Build: Design-Build: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design%E2… en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design%E2…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design%E2…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design%E2…
@glwatermi That concludes my coverage of today's Great Lakes Water Authority Operations and Resources Committee meeting for @DetDocumenters. If you have concern anything in this coverage is inaccurate, please email documenters@outliermedia.org w/ "Correction Request" in the subject line.📝
Attachments
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Agency Information
Great Lakes Water Authority
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) is a regional water and sewer authority that services nearly 40 percent of the water customers in Michigan. Currently GLWA provides wholesale water and waste water services to 127 municipalities in eight Southeastern Michigan counties, which is equivalent to approximately 3.9 million customers.
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