Bartlett and West Engineering Project Manager Jeff Moore addressed the Bourbon Board of Aldermen on Dec. 16 about progress on plans to upgrade sewer systems.

“We were working on an amendment to an original facility plan, where we would recommend not doing the headworks and the brick chambers right now,” said Moore. “We finished that amendment. Margie, you were worried about the cost of the estimates. Thank you for your patience there.”

Construction plans and the amendment were sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and include objectives to work on sewer upgrades located at Siebenman and Jones Street.

“We heard back from the financial department (at DNR) this morning that the current construction plans that they’re good with them,” said Moore.

The next part of the project is to get the construction permit approved and see if an environmental issue arises. Moore expects these steps to finish in February and then prepare for bidding in March or April.

“Initially, the project improvements we talked about were approximately $3 million, $1.5 million from DNR brand and $1.5million from our SRN funding,” said Moore. Our amendment analysis has shown, the current project will only take about $1.75 million to 2 million at most.”

Moore recommended a DNR plan $2 million for the project, but explained to the board that he doesn't think that it will cost that much.

“You’re looking at a reduction project cost at this stage at $250,000or at least $1 million,” said Moore.

He is currently waiting on the DNR to start funding the project.

“Well, hopefully you will have better luck in getting bidders than we have in the past, because of where we are,” said Mayor Dave Lafferty. “I think it’s because we’re so far away from the city.” 

Moore plans to help get the word out about requests for bids for the project.