Gainesville, Texas, approves $2.2 million transfer station project

On Oct. 20, members of the Gainesville, Texas, City Council agreed 5-0 to award AUI Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico, a $2.2 million construction contract for phase one of the city's solid waste transfer station project.

City Manager Barry Sullivan said the construction will be paid for using the 2018 bond funds. As reported by the Gainesville Daily Register, phase one includes work on non-permitted areas such as an office space, a new work area for the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Department and work on the south side of the garage to include extending the bays out, Sullivan said.

“We're excited about having this move forward,” Sullivan said of the two-phase project. “We think we are going to make our facility nicer and easier to use.”

In July, requests for proposals were received by nine firms for the construction of a new transfer station, information provided to council members shows. Of those nine firms, six were selected to submit bids for the construction of the new transfer station.

In October 2019, city council members voted unanimously in favor of a $450,950 contract with Eikon Consulting Group LLC, Plano, Texas, to design and obtain permits for the new transfer station to be built at the existing site at 601 N. I-35. All members were present for the council vote, according to a previous Daily Register report.

Sullivan said that engineering for both phases and the permit is $477,450.

In a letter from Eikon recommending AUI, it stated the transfer station project consists of the construction of four new buildings, a wash bay and site work at the facility off the interstate. The project is also intended to double the transfer station's capacity. Currently, it has a permit to receive up to 200,000 tons per day. When phase two of the facility's expansion is complete, it will allow for a permit of 400,000 tons to be collected daily, according to General Services Director Polly Boone.

All told, the project is expected to cost $4,751,906, according to an archived Daily Register report.

The city’s transfer station has been at its current 15-acre site since about 1977. The facility houses the transfer station, city garage and park crew.

Sullivan said he expects construction for phase one of the project will begin in about a month.