Central Arkansas Water Board of Directors Approves $10.2 Million Facility Design Services; Director to speak at the Ron Robinson Theater
Water Board agrees to contract change
Members of the Central Arkansas Water Board of Commissioners at a meeting Thursday voted to approve an amendment to an existing engineering agreement with Hazen and Sawyer for design-stage services related to the upcoming renovation of the Jack H. Wilson water treatment plant in the Northwest by Little Rock.
These services, including assistance in selecting and managing a “compromised construction manager” for the Wilson project, are expected to cost Central Arkansas Water a lump sum of approximately $10.2 million.
Hazen and Sawyer were originally commissioned in August 2020 to conduct a technical study and report on a potential refurbishment of the facility, which board documents say was completed in mid-2022.
The Company is expected to continue working with a local engineering firm, Hawkins-Weir Engineers, on the project.
The need to modernize the Wilson facility, built in the 1960s, contributed to Central Arkansas Water’s recent decision to pursue a 10-year plan of rate increases.
The utility’s Board of Commissions approved the tariff plan in January, and the first higher tariffs are expected to go into effect on July 1.
“Turn Every Page” film presentation set.
The Central Arkansas Library System is hosting a screening of the film “Turn Every Page” at the Ron Robinson Theater on April 20, followed by a discussion with its director, Lizzie Gottlieb.
The documentary, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, “explores the remarkable fifty-year relationship between two literary legends, writer Robert Caro and his longtime editor Robert Gottlieb,” according to a recent Library System press release.
Robert Gottlieb is the director’s father.
The screening is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and the discussion with Gottlieb begins at 8:00 p.m. Nate Coulter, executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System, will serve as moderator.
Further meetings on projects scheduled
Four more public meetings on how the City of Little Rock plans to use an initial set of bond proceeds for road and drainage projects will be held later this month and early next month.
Meetings are scheduled for March 27 (1818 Reservoir Road), March 29 (4501 Rahling Road), March 30 (5300 Stagecoach Road) and April 5 (6401 Baseline Road). Everything takes place at 6 p.m
In an August 2022 referendum, Little Rock voters approved a $161.8 million bond issue and extension of 3 mills tied to capital improvements to fund six categories of projects. Roads and drainage are the largest of the six.
