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WWTP upgrade begins
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The first order of major construction is taking down the plants administration building, which also houses the controls and laboratory. (Times file photo: Anthony Wahl)
MONROE - Construction contractors on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project are gearing up for work, starting with a pre-construction meeting at the facility Monday, April 22.

The day-long event was kicked off with a meet-and-greet period and a groundbreaking ceremony with Mayor Bill Ross; several members of Monroe Common Council; Alan Eckstein, utilities director; Mike Kennison, water supervisor; Rep. Howard Marklein, and Ginger Kollmansberger representing U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

Miron Construction Company, Inc. of Neenah received the $24.8 million contract, approved by the Monroe Common Council in March. AECOM in Middleton has been the engineering and project managers.

Beginning this week, city residents will see trailers coming into the city near West 10th Avenue and West 10th Street, to temporarily house construction company and treatment plant offices.

Coordination and communication were key words used at the pre-construction meeting.

"Chain of command is critical" to keep everything on schedule, said Paul Levendoski, AECOM project manager for Monroe's treatment plant. Levendoski said the project should be substantially completed by January 2015.

As many as 30 workers from numerous sub-contractors, in addition to the plant's staff, will be on the wastewater treatment plant site each day from 7 a.m. until about 4 p.m., according to Eckstein.

The first order of major construction is taking down the plant's administration building, which also houses the controls and laboratory. The building will be replaced with a larger one to accommodate the water utility offices, garages, storage and staff showers.

Eckstein said Tuesday that financing through the Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Fund Program is in its final stages. The city expects to receive about $22.6 million from the program for the total $29 million project, with the city spending about $6 million, he added.