Water Treatment Plant Expansion Underway, Project Nearly $6 Million Under Estimates
Final construction bids totaled $10.5 million for the Oak Creek Water Treatment Plant expansion, which is scheduled for completion in August 2010. Bids were much lower than original engineering estimates of $16.3 million for improved filtration and pumping capacity, as well as security measures.
“At the time of our last plant expansion in 1999, our master plan accurately predicted the need for another expansion by 2010 to 28 million gallons of daily water treatment capacity,” says Mike Sullivan, Utility Engineer. “The current economic situation and the timing of the bid process for this project, however, generated extremely competitive contractor bids and, as it turns out, tremendous value for rate payers.”
Oak Creek and Caledonia Sign 40-Year Water Supply Agreement
The Utility signed an extension of an existing agreement where Oak Creek will supply water to residents of Caledonia for the next four decades. This agreement also increased the Utility’s service area by approximately 20 square miles.
“Our existing relationship with Caledonia made us the logical choice to continue supplying what we deliver best, which is some of the nation’s cleanest, safest drinking water,” Utility General Manager Steven N. Yttri said. “Caledonia had other water supply options, but our approach to serving the communities and ratepayers that depend on our world-class water system for their water played a significant role in Caledonia choosing us.”
Utility’s Financial Reporting Excellence Recognized for 15th Consecutive Year
For the 15th consecutive year, the Utility received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, which recognizes financial communication that provides ratepayers with a transparent, easy-to-understand way of knowing how their fees are being spent.
“Our Utility has the longest running streak in Wisconsin for a water utility receiving this recognition,” Yttri said. “This speaks volumes about the team of people we have in place at the Utility to ensure our accounting methods and controls continuously exceed industry standards.”
Utility Certified Public Accountant Annette Stenzel received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for her involvement with its preparation.
This annual honor is the highest awarded for public entities by the Government Finance Officers Association. Utilities that issue Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports are reviewed by an impartial national panel for accounting and financial reporting. The report must demonstrate a spirit of full disclosure that clearly communicates the financial stories in a fashion that motivates readership.
World Taste Competition Ranks Oak Creek Water Among The Best of Global Suppliers
For the third time, Claire Baie bottled water, which is produced by the Oak Creek Water Utility, received a medal at the International Water Tasting, known as the Academy Awards of water. This year’s competition in Berkley Springs, W. Va., also ranked the Utility’s tap water fourth among municipalities from around the world, which compete annually at the world’s largest water tasting competition, now in its 19th year.
