MONROE - Change orders are already starting to come in for the new $22.5 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade project that kicked off April 22. The first two changes, unanimously approved by the Common Council June 4, will net the city project $61,000 in savings.
The first change order swaps companies on several major pieces of equipment, while still meeting required specifications, and reduces the project by $251,600.
Alan Eckstein, director of water utilities, said some of the substituted suppliers are Wisconsin companies whose close proximity will make replacement parts easier to obtain while eliminating the plant's need to stock those parts.
The second change order will cost $190,500 to purchase and install five pad-mounted transformers. The plant leases its current transformers from Alliant Energy.
A week into the project, construction crews located transformer lines in areas of construction, which would require relocating the transformers. But Alliant is 16-18 weeks backlogged on transformers, and that much lead time would put the project in jeopardy, Eckstein said.
He suggested to the Board of Public Works on June 3 the alternative of purchasing the transformers, a move that would need about 6-8 weeks lead time.
With the more energy-efficient transformers and a budget cut for the lease payments to Alliant, Eckstein estimated a savings of about $38,000 per year.
The plant would need a payback period of five years to break even on the purchase, but could see a long-term savings of more than $1 million. The transformers have a life span of about 35-40 years.
The purchase qualifies the city's applying for a Focus On Energy grant, and plant employees are "absolutely" capable to maintaining the new assets, Eckstein added.
Eckstein expects to see at least six change orders during the 20-month project.
The first change order swaps companies on several major pieces of equipment, while still meeting required specifications, and reduces the project by $251,600.
Alan Eckstein, director of water utilities, said some of the substituted suppliers are Wisconsin companies whose close proximity will make replacement parts easier to obtain while eliminating the plant's need to stock those parts.
The second change order will cost $190,500 to purchase and install five pad-mounted transformers. The plant leases its current transformers from Alliant Energy.
A week into the project, construction crews located transformer lines in areas of construction, which would require relocating the transformers. But Alliant is 16-18 weeks backlogged on transformers, and that much lead time would put the project in jeopardy, Eckstein said.
He suggested to the Board of Public Works on June 3 the alternative of purchasing the transformers, a move that would need about 6-8 weeks lead time.
With the more energy-efficient transformers and a budget cut for the lease payments to Alliant, Eckstein estimated a savings of about $38,000 per year.
The plant would need a payback period of five years to break even on the purchase, but could see a long-term savings of more than $1 million. The transformers have a life span of about 35-40 years.
The purchase qualifies the city's applying for a Focus On Energy grant, and plant employees are "absolutely" capable to maintaining the new assets, Eckstein added.
Eckstein expects to see at least six change orders during the 20-month project.