Qualified engineering firms are expected to begin their work on the continuing levee improvement project in Williamsport, according to votes by City Council.

The city received an $8 million federal award in November for levee improvements projects with an estimated price tag of $10.75 million.

The work must be done to keep the levee approved through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Betsy Kramer, Program Manager of Community Revitalization at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

It is important because it is the city flood protection and if it is not approved the residents lose that protection and thus their flood insurance will go higher, she said, adding she was pleased to present the good news to the city.

The city received the signature from Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) in November, she said.

“There was an issue with PEMA,” Kramer said of the delay that was not the cause of the city inaction.

“This has nothing to do with the city,” she noted. This project was actually awarded in Fiscal Year (FY 2023) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the city did not get the actual contract signed from PEMA until this past November, she said.

To a question from Councilwoman Bonnie Katz about why it could not have started sooner, since the city received notice of earmark in 2023, and Kramer explained that until the signature nothing could begin.

“We originally heard that this was going to be completed by the fall of this year,” she said. “There is no way you can put together a 24-month project in less than a year.”

“We’re working fast, but we could not work that fast,” she said, adding that an extension was requested.

“We have tentatively heard that you are approved until April of 2028,” she said.

“So, the timeline now works.”

SEDA-COG, meanwhile, went into a professional service agreement with the city in December.

The work is expected to be over $10.7 million and the FEMA award is covering the bulk share of the city grant.

“We are also working with the city and put in for a 25 % advance on the $8 million,” Kramer said.

That would be $2 million, she added.

“Hopefully, that will get to the city within the next month.”

Scott received approval for a resolution awarding construction inspection services for levee pump station electrical upgrades project.

The resolution authorized engineering services for construction, oversight and inspection for a levee pump station project.

The project involves electrical and stand-by power improvements at Arch Street, Spring Run, and Mill Race pump stations, he said.

“This is part of the $8 million FEMA legislative earmark,” he said.

Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (GPI) submitted a proposal for engineering as it relates to construction, administration and management and inspection of this project for a lump sum not to exceed $145,184.

This selection was based on the request for proposals.

“Great to see work finally getting done on this,” Council President Eric Beiter said.

These are “big ticket items,” according to Scott.

Next, a resolution was presented for a design engineer for primary levee projects.

Those projects are for engineering design of the relief wells under seepage mitigation; the Dewey Avenue flood wall; Northwest cross pipes rehabilitation and electrical upgrades at McClure’s Run and Hepburn Street pump stations, Scott said.

This also is part of the FEMA legislative $8 million earmark.

AECOM submitted qualifications for analysis, design, specifications, permitting and bid documents. Individual cost proposals for each project will be submitted in the future.

Councilwoman Liz Miele observed how AECOM scored substantially higher than a prior firm that had done a significant amount of work on the levee.

“It was exciting to me to see us to be presented with a new company to do work on the levee, because we have done so much work with WSP (Wood) …,” Miele said.

This will be AECOM’s initial work on this levee.

“It’s an international firm,” Scott said. “They rebuilt New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (2005) and New York City and Battery Park,” he added. “They have substantial qualifications and expertise.”

To the point, they actually finished work in New Orleans and New York City, Miele said.

“We are very excited about that,” she said, adding she was pleased the new firm was stepping into the levee work and thanked Scott for bringing them forward for the votes.