Upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are ongoing in the Bradford area, with the engineer working on the project design.

That’s the report that authority engineer Jack Rae of Gannett Fleming Inc. provided at a meeting of the Bradford Sanitary Authority held on Tuesday.

Part of the phase would include what are called reed beds, which would be used in the sludge dewatering process. The authority is looking into switching sand beds to reed beds.

In his report, Rae said preliminary layout and costs for the reed beds have been received, and the reed beds will require a special study. The development of the project cost and funding alternatives need to be completed and then the seeking of public comment would be advertised.

For the phase three upgrades, a total of 60 percent of the design for permit submittals is slated to be completed in mid-March. A total of 100 percent of design and bid-ready documents is scheduled for July. Funding is also expected to be awarded that month as well.

Rae also said the second phase upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are substantially completed, except for the general contract. There is a sequencing batch reactor influent hydraulic issue, he pointed out in his report. A sequencing batch reactor is a type of activated sludge process for wastewater treatment.

Also in his report, Rae said Continental Construction Inc. of Ridgway plans to do final paving in the spring as part of a $962,355 sewer rehabilitation project.  The work should resume in May and be completed in June, officials decided at the meeting.

Authority Executive Director Rick Brocius also said that discussions continue regarding a cellphone tower that would be constructed across Seaward Avenue from the wastewater treatment plant.

“A couple of offers and counteroffers have been considered. Lease language and restrictions have not been finalized,” he said.

The meeting also involved the authority board appointing Bob Douglas as chairman of the authority, Bob Esch as vice chairman, Norm Strotman as treasurer and Ernie Clark as secretary.

Robert Saunders has been named solicitor and Gannett Fleming as engineer.