Progress continued on the water treatment plant, the water line/well, the wastewater treatment plant and both phases of the Sixth Street Sewer project, Auburn Board of Public Works (BPW) directors were informed Monday, June 14.
A $182,846.12 payment to Eriksen Construction Company was approved for the water treatment plant.

David Hunter, general manager, said that overall plans were moving forward. Work was slowed because of rainy weather. Walls and electrical conduits are being installed so the floor can be poured. Arrangements were made to have the fiber cable removed while new piping is installed. Piping work between the clear wells and the new plant should start within the next month, Hunter said. He said that everyone will need to be patient while that work is going on.
Hunter also said that Health and Human Services (HHS) officials have requested that more wells be tested for “under the influence of surface water.” Three samples were drawn. Officials are awaiting test results. Officials want to wait for those results before any decision was made to continue testing or possibly quit testing if results indicated that additional wells were under the influence. It costs $2,000 each to test wells, Hunter said. HHS officials want to test all of the wells. BPW officials will meet with HHS officials to see what needed to be done to avoid testing all the wells, Hunter said.
It was reported that K2 officials have completed work on the water line and well. Completion was slow mainly because of weather. The contractor will need to meet with one property owner to resolve the issue of damage, mainly crop damage, by the Monday, July 12, meeting, Hunter said.
A $67,521.20 payment to Graham Construction for work on the wastewater treatment plant was approved. Hunter said that everything was working and looking good. Dirt work was being wrapped up. Cooperation from the weather was needed to get final grading done for concrete work. It was reported that one reed bed needed minor replanting while the other three reed beds needed total replanting. That should happen shortly. Hunter reported that officials received official classification that the new plant was classified Class III. Previously it was a Class II plant. The new plant will require the minimum of a Class III operator and backup operators of a Class II. One employee was a Class III operator. Additional employees will be needed to step up to obtain Class II as backup operators.
A $23,627.50 change order for Phase I of the Sixth Street Sewer project was approved. That involved sod at Tushla Field and extension of the casing under Highway 75. The old sewer line needed to be repaired to continue work. A $126,212.44 payment to Van Kirk Bros. Contracting for Phase I was approved. Hunter said that the contractor was moving forward, albeit slowly. The contractor tested the first run of manholes and piping last week. All of the new piping from the wastewater treatment plant to Highway 75 was installed. The contractor should start work west of the highway this week. Hunter said that the contractor did a good job cleaning up before another section was started.
A $14,568 change order for Phase II of the Sixth Street Sewer Project was approved. That involved an additional manhole that was installed in the middle of the section of pipe that was bored. A $279,195.48 payment to TJ Osborn Construction was approved. The contractor has completed the main section of the job and started cleanup along the route. The new sewer line from R Street to Sack Lumber needed to be installed.
An amendment was approved for HDR officials to provide engineering services for additional work to replace two lift stations and rehabilitation of the Sixth Street Sewer. The lift stations are at Magnolia Metals and at 27th Street. That will increase the HDR contract by $79,759. Funding will be from the balance of the grant funds for sewer system improvements received from officials of USDA Rural Development.
It was reported that the wellhead protection plan and ordinance needed further review.
A moratorium on service fees charged for electric, water and sewer connections was discussed. That was tabled until July 12 to allow review. It would apply to residences and multifamily residences zoned for residential occupancy.
There was a closed session to discuss personnel issues.
The 2009 audit was approved. Officers were re-elected. Rich Schneider will continue as chairman;  Dick Hahn, vice chairman; Doug Glenn, secretary and Dan Snyder, acting secretary.
Several reports were presented.
It was reported that crews have completed electrical work at the Orscheln site. City officials have opened bids on the water line. The contractor will be approved by the City Council.
Customers will receive the new bill format in July. City officials will await comments from customers.
An in-house wage, salary and benefit survey will be conducted. That was decided after several proposals were received.
Work will start on updating the website.
Auburn officials will receive a $12,415.20 grant from the Nebraska Energy Office. City officials will match $3,103.80. That will be used for new LED street lighting fixtures for Crestview and Courthouse Avenue. The fixtures will use less energy, will be brighter and not burn out as much. Officials wanted to determine how the lights would work before utilizing them in other areas of the city.
Electrical sales for 2010 to date were reviewed. The sales were a little lower than last year, because of such factors as the closing of Armstrong Cabinets and the weather. However, demand was reduced. That improved load factor, which was how efficiently you use electricity.