Orion Township is ready to make a deal. Almost.
That’s the word from township Supervisor Matthew Gibb, who on Monday took the board of trustees into executive session to present an update on negotiations between the township and General Motors in a long-planned venture to build a water tower near the Orion Assembly Plant.
‘We’re at a point where we feel extremely close to having a package that I’m ready to recommend to the board for approval,? Gibb said, explaining the move to executive — or closed — session. ‘We’re dealing with dollars and contract language in the negotiation of purchase of property.?
Before closing discussion off from the public, however, Jim Stevens of Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment, (OHM), the township’s engineering consultants, gave an update on the project’s status.
The firm is working to complete the tower design, prepare documents and advertise for bid for the elevated storage tank project.
The composite storage facility is proposed to stand about 100-115 feet with a capacity of 2.5 million gallons.
Stevens said OHM associates were working to separate the project into two ‘mini projects? in order to expedite the engineering process.
The first piece, he explained, would look at construction of the tower itself.
‘There’s only a few people in the country that build them,? he said. ‘But the construction can take (up to two years).?
Building could start as early as this summer, he said, noting when the project is complete the municipality will save some $870,000 annually.
And while construction gets underway, engineering of the tower’s operational system will continue.
‘The engineering work involved is the control valves, the operation,? he said. ‘How do you control the facility to make sure you reap the benefit of controlling your peak hour, therefore lowering rate??
The process will involve ‘extended duration simulation,? he said: Running system operations through a model for an extended period of time to develop an understanding of how demand from the community affects the levels of water storage.
According to a previous report by OHM, Detroit Water & Sewer Department (DWSD) rate methodology assesses significant costs based on peak hour usage, primarily because of increased costs of electricity at those times.
A storage tank and booster pump station would help even out demand for water from Orion Township over a 24-hour period, by using water from the storage facility during peak demand times, thereby reducing DWSD rates. The storage tank would refill during non-peak hours.
However, township DPW Director Bill Ireland said the booster pump wasn’t needed, after all.
‘Because of the location we’re able to fill on DWSD pressure without having any booster pumps,? he said. ‘That makes the tank an efficient operation now and into the future. So we’re not really adding to our carbon footprint by building this tank.?
Total cost for construction of the tower comes in at about $5,325,000.
Property costs are pending agreement between the township and General Motors.