The Knox Board of Works authorized an amendment to the existing sludge removal contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plant when members met this week.
Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons explained that even though the contract with J&K Excavating was approved back in April, the sludge could not be applied to any fields right away.
Clemons mentioned, “When we first bid this out, everything was wet and the beds themselves were wet for quite a while so now the majority of fields around have planted.”
She continued, “We have to have an open field. What we’re looking at right now are fields over near Monterey that wheat has come off so we can apply to those.”
She mentioned that there is still some paperwork that needs to be finalized in order to utilize those fields but indicated that this was the most feasible option. As a reminder, it is a common, state-approved practice for stabilized wastewater treatment plant sludge to be applied to fields.
Superintendent Clemons noted that J&K Excavating was initially awarded the contract for their bid of approximately $10,000, which was nearly $20,000 less than the other bid submitted.
She asked the board to consider approving an amendment to the initial contract to account for the location change.
Clemons shared, “He said to haul it this far, it’s an additional 21miles round trip so with the time, the fuel, it’s an additional $8,500 to do that.”
The proposed amendment received no opposition from the board members so the contract will be adjusted.
