Council Approves Contracts, RFP

Jefferson City Council Monday approved what one city leader called “the largest project in the city’s history.”Two contracts to rebuild and improve the Cole Junction pump station on Highway 179 were approved, to the tune of about $10 million. The project will replace the existing station and build a direct pipeline to the city’s water treatment plant across the Missouri River.Right now, waste water is piped to a station downtown and then pumped across the river. Ultimately, the city said the new pipeline will save money on energy costs.Construction on the new pump station is expected to start in December and last 18 months. It will be paid for by a voter-approved tax levy, passed in 2010.At the end of Monday’s meeting, Council fine-tuned the long-discussed Request for Proposals (RFP) for a conference center in the city. ABC 17 News has been reporting on the developments in this case for months.City leaders say the RFP will start going out to possible hotel partners in December. But, the city’s sent RFP’s on conference center projects before – this time, Council says they’re serious and specific.” This isn’t a fishing expedition,” said Third Ward councilman Bob Scrivner. “We’re ready to pull the trigger if we get responses that fit the criteria that we’ve drawn.”At issue Monday night, were clauses in the RFP detailing ownership, naming rights, stipends for Phase II proposals and additional funding.