Project Summary

The City of Vergennes faced an array of complex wastewater infrastructure needs. The wastewater collection, conveyance, and treatment systems required age-related improvements as well as system upgrades. Hoyle Tanner was selected as the Town’s wastewater engineer through a public, competitive QBS process to finalize the Step I Preliminary Engineering Report. Hoyle Tanner assisted the City with regulatory matters, CWSRF and USDA RD funding, evaluation of the existing aerated lagoons and WWTF operations, evaluation of alternative treatment processes to meet permit limitations, life-cycle cost analyses, and preliminary engineering for the recommended alternative. Hoyle Tanner worked closely with City staff to define a cost-effective project that addressed age-related needs and operational improvements with the flexibility to meet both near-term and long-term needs.

In advance of the City vote, Hoyle Tanner partnered with City officials to develop an informational postcard flyer that was mailed to every resident, created the project messaging strategy for officials to use when discussing the project needs, drafted the presentation materials for the public informational meetings series, and developed website content to provide a single source of relevant, accurate project details. After a multi-month outreach campaign, this project overwhelmingly passed the City vote and is now identifying additional funding sources for the necessary upgrades.