After a month-long battle, the Dell Rapids City Council finalized the engineer firm for the design of the new waste water treatment facility project during their regular meeting on Monday, August 17th.
Stockwell Engineers was first assigned to the project, however, during the city council meeting on July 20th, the Dell Rapids City Council voted to enter into a contract with DGR due to concerns of lack of experience with SAGR systems by Stockwell Engineers. Jon Brown from Stockwell Engineers asked the council to reconsider their decision during the council’s meeting on August 1st.
Before discussions began during the latest meeting, City Administrator Justin Weiland said, “My recommendation to the council is to stay with DGR. It’s in the best interest of the community to hire the firm that has the most qualifications and expertise. In this specific area of engineering…DGR has the experience doing that. They have a facility online that is a SAGR system, and they have designed multiple mechanical plants.”
Both Brown and Trent Bruce with DGR then fielded questions from the council members. They both answered questions on the background, experience, and the team of engineers that would be completing the design for this project.
After both firms finished answering questions, City Councilman Mark Crisp said, “At this point, we started with Stockwell Engineers. After the conversation that you and I had, Trent, you gave me confidence that I was making the right decision by letting Stockwell Engineers continue on with our waste water treatment facility plan. I still stand with that, and I feel re-assured that you feel confident that Stockwell can do it.”
Crisp then made the motion to back out of the contract with DGR and enter into a contract with Stockwell Engineers. Councilman Lee Burggraff seconded the motion. The roll call vote was split down the middle with Crisp, Burggraff, Mike Geraets, and Paul Miles voting in favor of Stockwell Engineers. Mike Sterud, Mary Klockman, Gary Haak, and David Sommerfeld voted nay.
Mayor Scott Fiegen broke the tie by voting in favor of staying with DGR, saying, “So based on the decision that the council made before and the contract we’re already in, my vote would be for DGR.”