Rollingwood City Council met July 21 to approve the use of incoming federal dollars to fund improvements to its water system.
The city anticipates receiving approximately $390,000 in aid through The American Rescue Plan Act, which passed in March. The federal relief will be distributed to support municipalities’ fiscal recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several uses are approved under the act including premium pay for city employees or assistance to small businesses.
Rollingwood will allocate its dollars towards needed investments in its water and wastewater system, another approved use within the plan's guidelines. The necessity of such improvements were highlighted by the infrastructure challenges faced during February’s winter storm.
During storm Uri, Rollingwood public works staff kept the city’s water system in operation by pulling a sole generator on icy roads to seven neighborhood life stations, which are facilities designed to move wastewater. At one point, city staff contemplated turning off the entire water system to prevent sewage from overflowing into Lady Bird Lake.
“Luckily we didn’t have to either but it’s something that is not sustainable一this one mobile generation,” City Administrator Amber Lewis said during the meeting.
As a result, city council approved two proposals from Site Pro Automation and Software Solutions一a company focused on industrial automation with a specific focus on fluids management, according to Chief Operating Officer John Cox.
Per the proposals, Site Pro will automate the city’s seven lift stations for a total cost of $137,611 and provide emergency power generation intended to prevent the hazards experienced in February at $100,276. Through the improvements, city employees, many of which do not live within city limits, will be able to access and control life station operations through a mobile application, Lewis said.
Additionally, Cox said in the event of a power outage, each station will have a switch that automatically kicks on a generator. Other features include camera systems, which will not only provide security but a live look at system operations. With these automation improvements, city staff will be able to quickly respond to any mechanical issues that may occur, according to Cox.
The cost also includes an annual Site Pro subscription of $43,860, according to city documents.
Following the discussion, council also approved a motion to designate remaining federal funding to purchase electronic water meters, which calculates water flow rate.
