City Commission to consider lift station design

The construction of Lift 87 has been stymied by delays and inspired complaints from residents, but on Monday, the project could move one step closer to completion.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, the board will consider the approval of a proposed site plan for Lift Station 87 during a public hearing. The design for the lift station building, located in Luke Wood Park at 1900 Mound St., has evolved over the past year: Originally conceived of as an underground structure, the proposed design calls for a two-story building that is 58 feet tall at its highest point.

Lift Station 87 will replace Lift Station 7, located at 935 Pomelo Ave., and handle one-third of the city’s wastewater. Engineering firm McKim and Creed, which is submitting the site plan for approval, is also charged with rerouting the wastewater flow from the old lift station to the new site by installing a series of pipes.

The city approved the project in 2008, and several delays have occurred over the past six years. In April, the total cost of the project was estimated at $27 million, more than twice the original projected budget of $12.5 million. The city is attempting to recover some expenses from the previous engineering firm, which was terminated after failing to redirect the wastewater from Lift Station 7.

The city is under an order from the state Department of Environmental Protection to finish the project by May 2016. The timeline for the project included a completion date of January 2016, though construction on Lift Station 87 was supposed to begin in October.

The full agenda for Monday’s commission meeting can be found on the city website. It will be the first regular meeting for commissioners Stan Zimmerman and Eileen Normile, appointed to the board at a special meeting Nov. 19.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].