Citizen Portal
Sign In

Elkhart Board approves contract amendments, payments and advisers for Oakland sewer financing and wastewater expansion

5445308 · July 1, 2025

Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts

Subscribe
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Board approved a small amendment to Donahue & Associates’ contract for the wastewater treatment expansion, ratified a progress payment to Selj Construction for the Oakland CSO tank, and engaged financial and legal advisers as the city prepares $35–40 million in SRF revenue bonds for Oakland Phase C and D.

The Elkhart City Board of Works approved multiple actions on July 1 related to wastewater projects: a $20,828 amendment to Donahue & Associates’ agreement for the 2019 wastewater treatment expansion, ratification of a $1,579,879 partial payment to Selj Construction for the Oakland combined-sewer overflow (CSO) tank, and contracts with financial and legal advisers to support an estimated $35 million–$40 million State Revolving Fund (SRF) revenue bond issuance for Oakland phases C and D.

Tory Irwin of Public Works said amendment No. 5 to Donahue & Associates’ professional services agreement adds $20,828 to close out extra time and effort the consultant expended because of project extensions; the amendment brings that contract total to $4,455,853. Irwin said staff discovered additional SRF funds from an earlier loan that cover the charge.

The board ratified partial payment request No. 4 to Selj Construction, $1,579,879, drawn from SRF loan WW24182006 for ongoing construction on the Oakland CSO tank project; staff described the payment as a standard progress payment.

Separately, the board authorized execution of agreements with Baker Tilly to serve as financial adviser and Burns & Thornburg to serve as bond counsel for the Oakland Phase C and D 2025 sewer revenue bond issuance and parity report. Tory Irwin said the issuance work will proceed in the fourth quarter and estimated total financing need at about $35 million to $40 million; the city did not qualify in rankings but staff intends to move forward in Q4.

The board approved both the Baker Tilly advisory agreement and the Burns & Thornburg bond counsel engagement by voice vote; motions carried with members present voting aye.