Due to recent changes in requirements regarding storm water mandates, the town council was asked during its March 20 meeting to consider a contract with AMEC Foster Wheeler for support services in the amount of $33,270. The item, however, has been tabled pending additional information.

As explained in the board backup information, the town is requesting contracted services to assist in the regulatory compliance requirements recently issued by the EPA/ADEQ Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit.

This permit outlines new requirements for inspections, monitoring, mapping, documentation, public outreach, education and reporting in regards to storm water and other unfunded environmental mandates.

As Town Manager Grady Miller stated, this is work that has to be done; it is not an optional task.

The proposal being considered by the council was for a one-year contract of $33,270 to be paid out of the local environmental fee, with an option for four additional one-year renewals.

At present, Fountain Hills has a .25 full-time employee assigned to the town’s environmental division to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. With these new regulations, Miller said the work load has simply become too much, hence the need to contract out the labor. Miller also stated that the contract was an “up to” amount and not a hard figure.

“I’ve studied this and believe this is the lowest cost option at this point,” Miller said.

Vice Mayor Dennis Brown, though, was not quite convinced.

“Right now, I don’t see a $33,000 value for doing this job,” he said.

Brown added that he would like to see this item brought before the council at the next meeting with more thorough details of the work load so council may “get a better idea of what we’re actually buying.”

The proposed contract was tabled.