Your news and information from McGill Associates

Edition I, 2012

newsletterSolutions

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Photo above from left, front row: Golden LEAF President Dan Gerlach, NC Representative Edgar Starnes, Lenoir Mayor Joseph Gibbons, former Lenoir Mayor David Barlow, Lenoir Public Utilities Director Radford Thomas, and Keith Krzywicki of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Physical Infrastructure Office attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the George L. Bernhardt Sr. Water Treatment Plant. Additional key project stakeholders, including City Manager Lane Bailey and McGill Associates representatives Joel Storrow and Buddy Edmisten, were also in attendance.

Safe and Reliable WaterCity of Lenoir dedicates new intake and pump system

The City of Lenoir dedicated its new raw water intake and pump system at Lake Rhodhiss during

a ceremony held at the George L. Bernhardt Sr. Water Treatment Plant on March 23, 2012. The new intake includes two passive intake screens; two 36-inch diameter intake pipes; a 45-foot-deep wet well, and raw water pump station. McGill Associates provided planning, permitting, design, bidding and construction administration services to the City throughout the project.

The new intake system is located in a deeper area of Lake Rhodhiss and farther from the shoreline than the existing intake. This allows for the withdrawal of better quality water from a treatment perspective and greater water source reliability in case of drought conditions.

The new intake will withdraw and pump up to 12 MGD of raw water to the water treatment plant. The new intake has also been designed to allow for future improvements and increased treatment capacity to 18 MGD.

Funding for the project included a $1 million grant from the Golden LEAF foundation and a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, with remaining financing from a state revolving loan. The project demonstrates the dedication of City of Lenoir leadership to secure safe and reliable drinking water for the City’s customers and much of Caldwell County through careful and thoughtful long-term water infrastructure planning.

Photo top right: aerial view of the water treatment plant. Photo bottom right: pump station pumping equipment.

An important element of McGill Associates’ program of services over the years has been our project funding capabilities. We have been deeply committed to understanding and monitoring funding programs and informing our clients as to the related financial opportunities that the programs present. As state and federal programs have diminished and local resources for matching grants become more scarce, our job has become increasingly challenging. That said, the absolute numbers of grants and loans and the total value of our successes has remained relatively constant in these recent times of financial hardship.

We have learned that our current challenge is to find the available resources and

carefully match the program requirements and changing priority systems to local capital projects and to the client’s matching funds limitations. The solutions are not as obvious and simple as in past years; however, the opportunities are still out there, and, in some cases, actually more available for competitive projects. This is particularly true for certain water, wastewater, stormwater and economic development projects.

As I have pointed out in previous “From the President” letters, an important key to success is good planning. Knowing what are critical projects and planning in advance for their funding, in anticipation of outside funding cycles and matching funding sources is a much more strategic endeavor. We are participating with our clients in many more local initiatives designed to create awareness of funding opportunities and gain consensus for funding strategies. This

increased level of involvement in deliberate financial strategies by key management staff and local and state elected officials has benefitted our clients.

We would be pleased to work with you to qualify your important capital needs and develop plans to fund key projects. Feel free to call or e-mail myself, Dennie Martin or Ellen McKinnon to discuss options for identifying needs and resources.

joel.storrow@mcgillengineers.com(828) 252-0575, ext. 124

Additional Contacts:Dennie Martin(828) 232-6113dennie@martin-mcgill.com

Ellen McKinnon, Grant Administrator (828) 232-6116ellen@martin-mcgill.com

from thePRESIDENTJoel L. Storrow, PE

There remains substantial opportunity for funding assistance; however, the programs have evolved and the resources have shifted away from what we came to understand in past years.

Sanford, Pittsboro Wastewater Alternatives Study in ProgressMcGill Associates is currently

performing a wastewater alternatives study, which includes collaboration between the City of Sanford, the Town of Pittsboro and Chatham County. The focus of the study is the evaluation of potential options to allow the Town of Pittsboro to meet future wastewater needs and the City of Sanford’s ability to provide wastewater treatment to the Town. The main alternatives being evaluated are an expansion to the Pittsboro wastewater treatment plant and the

construction of a new lift station and force main to deliver wastewater to the City of Sanford’s Big Buffalo wastewater treatment plant. The study will include capital costs and outline financial, environmental and regulatory benefits and challenges that may be encountered with each potential alternative. Once complete, the study will provide project stakeholders with critical information needed to thoroughly evaluate future wastewater infrastructure needs and potential regional partnerships.

Photos to right, from top down: the entire group of tournament participants; Matthew Pennell (right) and Dale Pennell, first place winners; Jody Wright (right) and Arty Rollins, second place winners; launching of tournament boats at sunrise on Lake Rhodhiss.

Anglers Enjoy 11th Annual Fishing Tournament

The 11th annual McGill Associates fishing tournament included participation from 28 anglers in 14 boats on Lake Rhodhiss in Lenoir. Hearty congratulations go to the first place team of Dale Pennell and Matthew Pennell, representing McGill Associates and Priority Honda, with a five-fish limit that weighed in at 12.45 pounds (lbs.). Dale is the first McGill Associates representative to win the tournament since 2003. Dale and Matthew also weighed in the big bass for the tournament with a 4.20 pound largemouth bass. Jody Wright and Arty Rollins, representing the Town of Forest City and Rollins Plumbing, came in a close second place with 12.25 lbs., including the second biggest bass at 2.65 lbs.

Rounding out the top five were three teams representing the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) – Zane Allison and Chuck Melton with 8.95 lbs.; Gary Gouge and Spike Gouge with 8.70 lbs.; and Corey Patton and Nick Shaver with 8.60 lbs. The four boats representing WRC finished third through sixth in the final standings.

Seven boats weighed a limit of five fish and another four boats weighed in at least three fish each. Overall, 13 out of 14 boats weighed at least one bass and seven boats weighed in at least one bass over 2 lbs. Corey Patton and Nick Shaver landed a warmouth sunfish that weighed in at 0.55 lb., which earned them some bragging rights and $30 for the largest non-bass.

The top five teams were awarded cash prizes and all teams were provided with a McGill Associates soft-sided mini-cooler packed with goodies. Altogether, cash prizes and gift cards totaling $1,240 were awarded at the tournament dinner, graciously hosted by the City of Lenoir.

As always, McGill Associates would like to thank our partners and sponsors, which include the City of Lenoir for providing its facilities for the weigh-in and dinner; Mainline Supply and ADS Pipe for providing the great barbeque, catered by Hog Wild BarBQ; and CONTECH for providing additional prizes and shirts.

Other teams not mentioned above represented the City of Lenoir; Colorful Creations from Asheville; Edward Sheppard and Sons Construction Company from Banner Elk; Evans Funeral Services from Lenoir; and North Carolina State University.

McGill Associates is assisting the City of Henderson with design improvements to the Henderson Water Reclamation Facility. The existing facility was originally constructed in 1938 with the last major upgrade taking place 30 years ago. As a whole, the plant has become inefficient and most of the equipment has aged beyond economic repair. Further, major repair parts are no longer available. This project is not triggered by increased flows, but rather by the City’s recognition that the plant must be improved in order to maintain future compliance, as well as

offset rising operation and maintenance costs.

To address these issues McGill Associates assisted the City in obtaining funding for the improvements through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. As a result the City was awarded a $16,615,000 loan, $1 million of which is in the form of principal forgiveness.

The project will replace dated equipment and processes requiring frequent and expensive repairs. Major project components include a headworks facility, influent pump station, 3-stage

oxidation ditches, final clarifiers, return/waste activated sludge pumping, sludge thickening, aerobic digester improvements, new administration building, new maintenance building, SCADA system and controls, and related appurtenances. The new process basins will simplify operations and eliminate workplace safety hazards, such as pure oxygen equipment and the anaerobic digesters connected to the administration building. The improvements will increase the operational effectiveness and reliability of the treatment facility.

Water Reclamation Facility Improvements Underway for the City of HendersonImprovements will increase reliability of the dated treatment facility

Aerial view of the current reclamation facility.

Haywood County Utilizing Gas-to-Energy at Closed Landfill

McGill Associates assisted Haywood County with design and permitting services at the new landfill gas collection and combustion system at the closed Francis Farm Landfill. The project consists of landfill gas collection piping and appurtenances, a skid-mounted landfill gas blower/flare package, and an engine/generator unit complete with utility compliant switchgear.

The system allows Haywood County to capture methane gas, a greenhouse gas byproduct of solid waste decomposition, and convert it into energy. The methane gas will be used to power the engine/generator unit to produce electricity for sale to the local Electric Membership Corporation. The project was funded in part by a $1 million grant from the N.C. State Energy Office as a part of its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan. McGill Associates also provided construction administration services for the project, which was completed in spring 2012.

Right photo: Skid-mounted landfill gas blower/flare package.

First Building Completed at Facebook Facility in Rutherford County

Left photo: Aerial view of Facebook mission critical facility.

Building 1 of Facebook’s two-phase mission critical facility, which entails a 240,000 square-foot data center on more than 146 acres in Rutherford County, has been completed. McGill Associates assisted with site planning and site engineering for the facility, including grading, water lines, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and stormwater control. McGill Associates also provided extensive surveying services for the project. Building 1 initially broke ground in November 2010 and was designed to LEED Gold standards. Construction of Building 2 began last fall and is expected to be finished in late 2012.

The second publicly accessible Brightfield™ solar power generating electric

vehicle charging station opened at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council offices on Leicester

Highway in Asheville. More than 50 community members and public officials, including City of Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy and Buncombe County Commissioner David Gantt, celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

McGill Associates was recognized during the ceremony for the firm’s contribution of donated engineering design time, which included client and regulatory agency coordination, site assessment, site layout and design, as well as permitting assistance.

The charging station, designed by BioWheels Responsible Transportation

Solutions (RTS), a local renewable energy and alternative transportation

start-up, utilizes solar technology to charge up to six electric cars at one time. Solar panels on the roof produce electricity, which in turn is sold back to the power grid.

The Leicester Highway installation is the second charging station among four planned to be completed within the Asheville area; McGill Associates will also assist with two additional stations. All charging stations are sited to be publicly accessible and are free to use through the end of July 2012, according to the BioWheels RTS website. The stations are funded by a $376,000 grant BioWheels RTS received from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Green Business Fund that, through the State Energy Office, administered US Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money allocated for growing the nation’s renewable energy sector.

Firm Assists with Site Design for Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Scenes from the electric vehicle charging station ribbon cutting ceremony (bottom left photos).

Mission Health’s SECU (State Employees’ Credit Union) Cancer Center facility has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for New Construction certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. McGill Associates

performed civil site design for the project, which includes an

underground stormwater storage system that allows for the capture and

reuse of rainwater. The stormwater system designed by

McGill Associates reduces the quantity

of and improves the quality of stormwater run-off and earned the facility credit toward achieving the LEED certification. The 120,000 square-foot facility was completed in the fall of 2011 and is one of only three cancer centers in the country with the Gold LEED certification. It is the largest LEED-certified healthcare facility in North Carolina.

McGill Associates has provided assistance to clients for numerous projects eligible for LEED certification. The McGill Associates team is committed to assisting our clients with achieving project goals related to low-impact development and green building practices.

Mission SECU Cancer Center Awarded Gold LEED Certification

The SECU Cancer Center (top left photo: courtesy of Mission Health, copyright 2011) includes an outdoor waterfall and garden area for patients (left photo). The water in the fountain comes from an

underground stormwater retention system.

Grant Administration Services Helpful in Maintaining Funding Agency Compliance for Mitchell County Water and Sewer Project

In today’s world of scarce resources, local governments find it difficult to secure 100% funding from a single source for their projects. In addition to a required amount of local cash, counties and municipalities often have to contend with several sources of funding.

McGill Associates recently provided planning, design, surveying, permitting, bidding and award assistance, and construction phase services to Mitchell County for a project to extend water and sewer service to Mitchell County High School and the Ledger community. Through the hard work and dedication of County Manager Charles Vines, along with assistance from our team of engineers and grant specialists, the County received funding for this critical project from three separate sources: the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and the Golden LEAF Foundation. Mitchell County wanted to be sure that the rules, regulations, special restrictions, caveats and prohibitions were adhered to

for each of the three funding agencies, and engaged our firm to assist the County with the complex funding administration process.

Due to the differing reimbursement and bidding processes among agencies, budgets must often be consolidated and reconciled. The funding administration process can become an overwhelming task for local officials who are operating with limited staff. Mitchell County has been a success story; our staff worked closely with the County Manager to manage the funds for extension of both water and sewer to the high school area. Site visits have brought praise from funding agencies regarding the meticulous attention to detail by the County Manager and the

responsiveness of Ellen McKinnon, our Grant Administrator.

We have successfully assisted numerous clients with grant administration in addition to funding application writing and submission for a variety of projects. These partnerships have been very productive. We have helped our clients to include administrative costs in their estimates so that at least a portion of the administrative expense can be returned by the funding agency. Our grant specialists have developed a rapport with the staff at funding agencies that regulate the funds and how they are used, which has been beneficial to our clients in securing funding for numerous essential projects.

In addition to the funding agencies involved in the Mitchell County project, we have experience working with numerous other programs, including the Economic Development Administration, Community Development Block Grants, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the NCDENR Infrastructure Finance Section and the NCDENR Public Water Supply Section.

Mitchell County High School and Ledger Community water tank

Ellen McKinnon, Grant Administrator

McGill Associates, P.A.38 Orange StreetAsheville, NC 28801(828) 252-0575

If you would like to learn more about the services McGill Associates provides, change your mailing information, prevent future mailings or send others this newsletter, please contact Jessica Martin-Lane at 828.232.6109 or information@mcgillengineers.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Office LocationsAsheville, NC Danny Bridges55 Broad StreetAsheville, NC 28801828.252.0575

Hickory, NCAndy Lovingood1240 19th Street Lane NWHickory, NC 28601828.328.2024

Pinehurst, NCMike Apke5 Regional Circle, Suite APinehurst, NC 28374910.295.3159

Knoxville, TNGary McGill2240 Sutherland Avenue, Suite 2 Knoxville, TN 37919865.540.0801

Corporate OfficeJoel Storrow, PresidentKeith Webb, Vice President38 Orange StreetAsheville, NC 28801828.252.0575

Client ServicesDennie MartinJessica Martin-Lane828.255.0313

Your news and information from McGill AssociatesnewsletterSolutions

Edition I, 2012