HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.1. Fairview Gardens Sewer Improvements (2)Subject
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Fairview Gardens Sewer Improvements
January 23, 2024 - MEETING OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Y
$2,000,000.00
American Rescue Plan Grant & General Fund
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Presentation
On November 7, 2023, the Village Board awarded a contract to the Ciorba Group of Chicago,
Illinois, to provide design and construction engineering services for a new gravity outfall from
the Fairview Gardens sanitary sewer system to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of
Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) interceptor sewer system.
This solution to the Fairview Gardens sanitary sewer sub -basin clear water inflow problem
proposes a gravity sewer outlet concept that would eliminate the existing lift station and
create a new connection to the MWRDGC Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer 14A at an
existing MWRDGC drop manhole. The new connection will be located at the northwest corner
of Central Road and Wolf Road, in Des Plaines. The proposed gravity outfall includes the
extension of a 12" sanitary sewer from the existing lift station wet well to the drop manhole at
Intercepting Sewer 14A as shown in Figure 1 (attached).
The capacity of this proposed 12" sanitary sewer is approximately 950 gallons per minute
(GPM) at 95% full. A comparison of this capacity to other studied capacities in the system is
provided in Table 1.
Table 1: Gravity Outfall Capacity Comparison
Comparison
Flow Rate
Gravity
Notes
(gpm)
Outfall % of
Compared
Flow
Existing Lift
725
131%
The gravity outlet has 31% more
Station - 1
capacity than the current standard
Pump
lift station, operating with 1 pump
Running
running (the most common
condition).
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Existing Lift
Station - 2
Pumps
Running
1,040
91%
The gravity outlet has only 9% less
capacity than the current lift station
when both main pumps are
running.
Existing Lift
1,150
83%
The gravity outlet has 17% less
Station - 3
capacity than the current lift station
Pumps
when all 3 pumps are running.
Running
This condition very rarely occurs.
New Lift
369
257%
The new gravity sewer would have
Station
2.6 times more capacity than a new
Capacity
reconstructed lift station.
Allowed by
Permit
In summary, a new gravity sewer outfall could essentially mimic the discharge capacity of the
existing sewer pump station that serves the Fairview Gardens neighborhood.
Staff has received preliminary approval from MWRDGC to construct this new outfall and
remove the existing pump station. The new gravity sewer outfall will be completed and in
service by summer 2024.
The estimated cost of construction is $2,410,000. This estimate includes the cost of removing
the existing pump station. Sufficient funds for this proposed expenditure have been allocated
in the 2024 budget (Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund).
Private Property Improvements Required
However, in a letter granting conceptual approval of this idea, the MWRDGC reiterated its
requirement to continue removing clear water inflow from private property sources:
"The WMO (Watershed Management Ordinance) permit for this project will include a Special
Condition stating that the permit is contingent on the Village enacting a program under which
all homes in the service basin of the Fairview Gardens lift station that have inflow sources
connected to the sanitary system will disconnect those sources. Such sources will be
disconnected no later than the first date upon which ownership of the property is transferred
following the issuance of the WMO permit."
Staff proposes to satisfy this requirement by requiring homes tributary to the Fairview
Gardens sanitary sewer sub -basin to successfully complete a clear water inflow inspection
prior to the issuance of a property transfer stamp. This requirement will be established by
local ordinance at a future Village Board meeting.
Discussion
Proposed Funding for Private Property Improvements
Approximately 95 homes in the sub -basin have clear water inflow problems. To help affected
homeowners mitigate the cost of fixing these problems, staff proposes a direct grant program
of $25,000 per home and a total program cap of $2 million. This level of funding will pay for
plumbing improvements for 80 of 95 affected homes (assuming each homeowner utilizes the
$25,000 maximum/home).
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Funds will be dispersed on a first come, first served basis until exhausted. Potentially, this
could result in as many as 15 homeowners bearing the full cost of their improvements.
The recently completed Lowden Lane pilot project revealed that the total average cost to
eliminate clear water inflow from a single-family house was $33,000. However, that cost
included complete restoration, such as drywall replacement, floor covering replacement, and
painting. In addition, the cost also includes any electric service upgrades necessary to add a
sump pump.
The average cost per home for the required plumbing work only was $26,000. This scope of
work is limited to installing a sump pump, disconnecting exterior footing tile drains, backfilling
excavations, and repairing a concrete floor trench. It does not include replacing floor or wall
treatments, and it does not include the cost of electrical service upgrades.
Staff proposes to limit eligible grant funding to required plumbing work only. This caveat would
allow $2 million in found funds to pay for most work necessary to eliminate clear water inflow in
the Fairview Gardens sanitary sewer sub -basin.
Proposed Sources of Funds
$900,000 worth of funding for this program could be drawn from unspent American Rescue
Plan (ARP) money.
Mount Prospect received $7.0 million from the ARP. Subsequently, the Village Board allotted
$5.3 million of this grant towards an Emergency Water System Interconnection with the
Northwest Water Commission.
The remaining $1.7 million was assigned to the Human Services Department and Community
Development Department for various programs. Human Services and Community
Development have used $359,913 from the American Rescue Plan. Based on recent
estimates, they may spend an additional $466,200. That leaves the Village with an unspent
American Rescue Plan award totaling $900,000.
The Village must spend the remaining $900,000 in the American Rescue Plan by December
2024. However, per the new rules issued for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery
Funds (SLFRF), a community with an ARP grant of less than $10 million can opt for a standard
deduction and use the amount as it wishes except for the reduction of property taxes, pension
payment, and debt obligations. Water and sewer projects are eligible items on which the
American Rescue Plan dollars can be spent.
The remaining $1.1 million can be sourced from the General Fund after the initial $900,000
runs out. Not all $1.1 million will be available at once. Staff anticipates that the General Fund
can incrementally fund $1.1 million over the course of several years (i.e., 2024-2027).
In addition, any unspent funds from the gravity outfall sewer project can also be reallocated
towards private property improvements.
Funding for private property improvements is neither budgeted in the current Community
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Investment Plan (CIP) nor included in the most recent water and sewer rate study.
Consequently, funding this project utilizing the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund could burden
the fund and result in a higher future rate increase.
Alternatives
1. Create a $2 million direct grant program for private property sewer improvements to
reduce clear water inflow in the Fairview Gardens sanitary sewer sub -basin. The
maximum grant award is $25,000 per home.
2. Action at the discretion of the Village Board.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Fairview Gardens Sanitary Sewer Lift Station and Clear Water
Inflow Problem be resolved by constructing a new gravity outfall connection to the MWRDGC
interceptor on Wolf Road.
Staff also recommends establishing a $2 million fund to distribute a maximum of $25,000 grant
per eligible home for the elimination of private sector clear water inflow.
If implemented, this solution would provide a sanitary sewer discharge capacity that essentially
replaces the existing sewer pump station, and it would also be the most cost-effective of
available alternatives. Table 2 below summarizes estimated costs:
Table 2: Alternatives Cost Comparisons
Alternative
Cost
Estimate
Inline Pipe Relief Storage
$8,686,000
Underground Relief Storage (St.
$5,638,000
Emily)
Underground Relief Storage
$4,597,750
(Bluett Park)
Gravity Outfall & $2M Private
$4,410,000*
Property Fund
$2,410,000 for new gravity sewer outfall connection to MWRDGC and removal of
existing sewer pump station + $2,000,000 for private property sewer upgrades = $4,410,000.
Public Works staff will be available at the January 16 Committee of the Whole meeting to
present this proposal to the Village Board and facilitate discussion.
Attachments
FIGURE 1 - FAIRVIEW GARDENS GRAVITY OUTFALL CONCEPT
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