Letter from the Mayor – WWTP Upgrade

Letter from the Mayor

January 20, 2025

Please see the statement below from Utility Manager Matt Beekman regarding the work being done at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

 This is Matt Beekman, the Utility Manager for the City, the WWTP upgrade consists of a new Headworks Building with all new mechanicals (pumps, piping, controls etc.), a new grit removal system, and a new septic receiving station.  Included in the project is bringing the existing building into compliance for safety and HVAC issues.  This will consist of removal of the existing pumps and grit removal system as well as the “Tee Cup”.  The original contract bid was $6,111,566.45 and the project was then value engineered to remove several items that brought the cost down to $5,625,496.70.  The project is funded by a bond issued to the Utility and additional funds for the project coming from the PPE Replacement Fund.  The project is totally funded by Utility monies.  Robert E. Lee (REL) was the Utility’s design engineer on this project at a cost of $271,815.42 and REL is also the construction oversight engineer with an approved contractual amount of $244,900.00.  If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me, my cell phone number is 920-373-3699 or through my work email at waterdept@cityofocontowi.gov.

In 2025, the Utility approved a routine simple rate increase of 4%. For the average family of four home, this would be an estimated increase of around $9.00 on your quarterly utility bill.

Regards,

Cliff Martin

Mayor City of Oconto

mayor@cityofocontowi.gov