Shenandoah City Council approves $9.5M in contracts for ongoing Tamina infrastructure project

The action taken

City Council unanimously approved a $7.3 million contract to go to SC2 Sequeria Civil Construction for drilling a new Jasper aquifer groundwater well and construction of a water plant, according to the meeting agenda.

The second contract will be awarded to Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors Inc. at $2.31 million for the construction of Water Plant No. 5. The construction will be for a tall elevated water tank similar to the Shenandoah water tank, according to the meeting agenda.

An amendment was also passed adding $646,320 for engineering fees for the Tamina project, Public Works Director Joseph Peart said.

How we got here

Following a joint effort between Montgomery County and the city in 2023, $21 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds were allocated to bring in new water and sewer infrastructure in the unincorporated community of Tamina. An additional $550,000 was allocated by the city to fund additional grant efforts, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The city has stated the project will be completed in 2026.

What they’re saying

“When we approved this project a year ago, we all realized at that time that this may be the most important vote that we take in our entire political lives because we’re helping people, seriously helping people in need,” council member Jim Pollard said.

“It’s also important to recognize that it’s a huge statement from the county to the credibility of Shenandoah that we would be asked to be the caretakers, to manage it,” council member Frank W. Robinson said of the project.

Another detail

The city also approved funding for a party trailer for a total of $2,530 for city events, which includes items such as tables, outdoor games and canopy covers, according to information on the agenda.

The next Shenandoah City Council meeting will be July 24.