Residents within East Valley Water District service area can soon look forward to enhanced efficiencies as the District reached a major milestone on the path to constructing a new headquarters facility. With standing room only, the East Valley Water District governing board unanimously agreed to work with Balfour Beatty Construction to design and build the new facility on Greenspot Road.
“We have just taken a giant leap in our efforts to build a new home for East Valley Water District that will create more opportunities for us to provide services to our customers and be a resource for the water community,” said Board President Matt LeVesque. “This project has been many years in the making, and will only enhance our ability to be a community partner and example of responsible government.”
The new centralized headquarters will provide increased opportunities for the community to continue receiving quality water and sewer service while also having the ability to attend additional community events, trainings or simply enjoy the public demonstration garden. Not to be forgotten, the existing orange grove on the property will continue to highlight the regional historical element for generations to come. With design work 30% complete, this facility will sit on 22 acres, and allow for all district operations to take place at one location. Currently East Valley Water District operates out of three different locations with over $200,000 per year in rent payments and utilities. The new Greenspot headquarters will consolidate these locations, address unmet needs, and provide for future opportunities.
“We have taken great steps up to this point to build an environmentally friendly building that meets our current and future customer’s needs,” said General Manager/CEO John Mura. “We have chosen a very conservative financing plan that allows for us to construct this facility without compromising our daily operations or infrastructure project improvements.”
The agreement with Balfour Beatty Construction is a turn-key approach that protects the interests of EVWD customers by using the Guaranteed Maximum Price method. In this case, the facility is guaranteed to cost no more than $15.5 million, or else Balfour Beatty Construction will absorb those costs. If the project comes in under budget, the District received those saving. Over the course of the project, phases will be broken down increasing the opportunity for local contractors to bid on specific packages.
Design work is expected to be completed in the next month with construction anticipated to begin in spring 2013. When completed, this facility will be built to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standards for sustainability.
For a complete update on the new headquarters facility project visit the District website at www.eastvalley.org.
EVWD provides water and sewer collection services to about 70,000 people in the cities of Highland and San Bernardino. For more information about EVWD, call (909) 889-9501.