Residents will have their first opportunity on Wednesday to see preliminary designs of the new administration building for the sewer treatment plant.
In November, Durango voters approved $68 million in debt for sewer-related projects. Remodeling the plant at Santa Rita Park is estimated to cost about $58 million, and the additional $10 million could be spent on other wastewater projects.
The remodel is necessary to ensure the plant can continue to meet water-quality regulations as Durango continues to grow.
The first meeting will focus on options for the landscaping, architecture and site layout at the administration building, said Sean Bannon, utilities engineer.
It will be a highly visible part of the campus because it will be close to the Animas River Trail and the Durango Whitewater Park. The theme selected for this building will set the tone for the others, he said.
“It will have sort of a campus feel, everything will be integrated,” said Mary Beth Miles, assistant to the city manager.
The design process started in January and the city has sought feedback from a stakeholder group of business leaders, river users, Fort Lewis College representatives and Mountain Studies Institute representatives, among others, Bannon said.
Some of the designs will be available online later in April and at least two more open houses are being planned to solicit feedback, Miles said.
The design for the entire plant is expected to be finished by the end of the year, and construction is expected to begin in 2017, said Utilities Director Steve Salka.
While most of the work is yet to come, some remodeling is ongoing. Last year, crews started refurbishing two primary clarifiers, large tanks that separate sludge and scum from wastewater, because they were corroding on the inside.
The work has finished on one of the clarifiers and is ongoing on the other, Salka said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
To weigh in
The public can view and provide feedback about preliminary designs for the sewer treatment plant remodel from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 E. Third Ave.
