Taking a look at the at the City of Levelland’s infrastructure, Freese and Nichols conducted a comprehensive study spanning the past several months.
After gathering enough data and talking with city staff for possible ideas and solutions, the company presented their information to city council during a special work session that covered every detail.
Freese and Nichols returned a few days later to present an abbreviated version of the study during city councils regular meeting Monday.
Breaking their review into four sections, that include water ,wastewater, transportation, storm water and facilities.
With the amount of detail provided, this article will include the first two aspects of the survey and readers can expect the final two sections of rain water and facilities to be compiled into a story for the upcoming Wednesday issue.
Addressing areas of concern with city staff after gathering data, the group moved forward with putting together capital improvement projects and proposed programs to address maintenance for each category.
The capital improvements recommended by the company included: a citywide AMI Program that was estimated at $2.18 million; a 12-inch Hickory Street to the Levelland Airport supply line with an estimated cost of $2.64 million; a 1 million gallon elevated storage tank with an estimated cost of $6.9 million; a 12-inch State Highway 114 water line with an estimated cost of $653,000; and an 8-inch West Avenue water line with an estimated cost of $1.04 million.
In addition to the improvements presented, the company proposed programs or continuos maintenance objective such as: a valve, hydrant exercising program that would cost roughly $109,000; and a water line replacement plan with an estimated cost of $23.5 million
Budget options were offered and laid out specifically for the water line replacement plan, as it had a large price tag associated with the item.
It was explained that the full replacement was dependent on how much the council would be willing to budget for each year to complete the project.
A scenario offered had the council budgeting $1.17 million a year, with a projected date of completion being 20 years. However, should the council choose to budget with a lower number near $245,000, the city would not complete the project until a better part of a century has passed.
Freese and Nichols stated the best recommend would be replacing one to two percent of the city’s system per year.
The AMI systems would allow the City to read water meters digitally. Currently, the city water meters are read manually which can cause issues when obstructions or inclement weather occur.
The three suggested water lines would help expand access to city water, and ease the strain on other parts of the system.
Having more substantial water storage would mitigate loss of service and water pressure to citizens. The 1 million gallon tank has much the same objective if the city were to begin replacements.
In regard to wastewater, the company acknowledged the city’s commitment to improving their wastewater systems with the new Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The recommendations offered to the council focused on capacity issues.
Recommended projects included: the expansion of the gentry lift station with an estimated cost of $1.11 million; and the replacement and increase of the A&M Lane gravity main with an estimated cost of $323,000; and the inspection and cleaning of Lobo Lake with the addition of a 15-inch gravity main for the amount of $245,000.
Moving on to the proposed maintenance projects, the suggested projects included: a manhole inspection pilot program which would roughly cost $24,000; and a sewer line replacement plan with an estimated cost of $16 million.
The mentioned items are meant to focus on enhanced operations and lower maintenance costs.
Offering possible budget numbers for the mentioned wastewater projects, if the council budgeted $583,000 a year, the replacement projects would be wrapped up in 20 years. If the city chose to move forward with a budgeted number around the $116,000 mark, the time line would have the city see everything finished in a 100-year span.
When talking about budgeting and ways to fund the mentioned projects, Freese and Nichols explained to council there are several resources for funding projects of this nature. Through different grants and funds that are available to municipalities the mentioned projects could seem more viable.
After wrapping up the water and wastewater section of the presentation, Freese and Nichols broke down the transportation aspect of the comprehensive survey.
The company reported that about 69 percent of the city roads were in good standing or in satisfactory condition, but the overall goal is to develop a plan to address the less than fair roads in the future.
Freese and Nichols explained that during the time survey vehicles traveled across all Levelland roadways, the vehicles were scanning the roads and assessing their conditions and severity of the conditions.
During their process of scanning the roads, one of their objectives were to determine the different levels of service each area would need in a given time.
The percentages of roads in several different categories were as follows:
the percentage of roads in the good standing was19.7 percent; the percentage of roads in the fair standing were 28.9 percent; the percentage of roads in the poor standing were 8.4 percent; the percentage of roads in the very poor standing were 2.1 percent; and the percentage of roads in the serious standing were 0.3 percent.
As typical pavement deterioration occurring on curves, if handled early, it could save the city a good bit of money.
It broke down to about $2.5 per square yard of road for surface treatment and crack sealing, all the way to over $100 per square foot for partial full depth reconstruction.
The city has annualy budgeted for roughly $470,000 a year for road maintenance in the past.
However, this years budget failed to account for seal coat expenditures due to council having disagreements about tax rates during the previous budget season An estimated $1.6 million would be needed to at least keep the city streets around the 69 percent mark they are currently at.
In order to fix the roads in the very poor condition, $4.4 million would be needed. To fix the portions of road in the serious, failed condition, a additional $3.1 million would be required.