Development of the new $1.2 million water treatment plant is continuing to move along after the City Commission advanced the next phase of the project Monday night.
The plant is intended to improve the reliability and capacity of the city’s water infrastructure as the community continues to grow. Phase 1A of the project wrapped up at the end of 2025. Phase 1B will now begin and include preliminary design and pricing development. Construction won’t begin until Phase 2.
The city is working with CAS Constructors and Burns & McDonnell for design and construction of the new plant.
Dana Hinderliter of Burns and McDonnell and Ryan Rutkowski of CAS Constructors spoke to commissioners Monday.
Hinderliter said the next phase would finish preliminary design of the plant and related infrastructure. It will also include ongoing administrative steps needed for the project with the state government.
Plus, they will begin working on construction analysis and pricing for the project.
Rutkowski said the goal is still to have the new plant online by the end of 2028.
Rutkowski said they are looking at funding most of the project with a federal loan, and supplementing that with a collection of state grants.
Commissioner Alex Curnes recused himself from discussion and voting on the water treatment plant due to an employer conflict.
In other business, the City Commission approved a proclamation recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The proclamation urges “the citizens of Eudora to speak out against sex and labor trafficking and exploitation, to support survivors of these heinous crimes, to encourage community leaders to hold offenders accountable and to make preventable efforts a priority by hosting events, by creating policies at work, school and home, and by supporting and participating in programs designed to reduce and eventually eliminate human trafficking as a societal problem.”
Plus, commissioners awarded a contract to City Wide for municipal cleaning services. The contract and corresponding vote was necessary because the price for the services reached the threshold where a full bid process was required. The service is for City Hall, the West Annex, the police portion of the Public Safety Building and the Public Works facility.
Commissioners thanked the Police, Fire and Public Works staff for their efforts to clear the streets after the weekend’s snow storm.
Eudora also has an updated logo, including a tree that better matches other city branding. City Clerk Kelly Delay led commissioners in a work session on the city’s updated brand kit and style guide. The project will include new aligned merchandise and signage to come later this year.
City Manager Zack Daniel said the city is hosting another community garage sale at 1 p.m. March 22.
He said the Legislature has introduced a bill to switch the Library Board to being elected, a process commissioners and Library Board members have worked on over the last month.
Fire Chief Justin Lee said the department has promoted three new captains who will oversee training, recruitment and fire prevention, respectively.
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
