Austin City Council approves $299 million for Water Treatment Plant 4 construction contracts
By Bobby Longoria and Beth Wade
Thursday, 18 November 2010 – AUSTIN
Austin City Council authorized the negotiations of several contracts with MWH Constructors Inc. Nov. 18 related to the construction of Water Treatment Plant 4 that will total approximately $299 million.

Austin Water Utility Director Greg Mezaros said the authorization will help the project remain on time and on budget by allowing the utility to complete contract negotiations without having to return to council for approval for each smaller contract during the course of construction.

“Prior to this we were bringing smaller chunks of the project through the full approval process, and when you are talking about a $359 million construction contract, that’s a lot of overhead to bring through,” Mezaros said.

The items were approved 4-3 with council members Chris Riley, Bill Spelman and Laura Morrison voting against after several hours of public comment.

Several members of the audience spoke in favor of the treatment plant’s construction and said the project would help bolster the city’s economy, especially for the minority- and women-owned contracting firms working on the project.

“The water treatment plant represents… READ MORE.