FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The city began the process for an extensive upgrade of its municipal water and sewer system by approving a $167,000 contract Monday with the engineering firm CH2M HILL.

At the April 11 meeting when the City Council approved the contract, Mayor Tim Kant said this would be the first phase of the project, which will focus on a study of the city sewer upgrade and Rock Creek water system.

The 22-page description of the “Phase 1” tasks includes a pay scale for the engineering firm personnel, ranging from $50 an hour for an accounting administrative assistant to $195 an hour for the “Principal-in-Charge, Principal Technologist, Program Manager, Sr. Project Consultant.”

The document also provides a breakdown of the estimated compensation for the entire project, which not to exceed $167,000, as follows: “Task 1: Project Planning, Chartering and Data Collection, $19,000; Task 2: Water Reclamation Plant Evaluation, $76,000; Task 3: Water Distribution System Model and Rock Creek Subdivision Evaluation, $72,000.”

The point of contact for CH2M Hill is listed at David Stejskal.

“CH2M HILL will prepare a detailed work plan for the initial tasks for the water and sewer system study,” the document states. “The detailed work plan and schedule will be presented to the City at the Project Chartering Workshop and will form the basis for project delivery. In addition to the work plan and schedule, this subtask will include the preparation of the following items: Quality Management Plan; Health and Safety Plan; Monthly Project Progress Reports.”