P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., Assists City of Folkston in Obtaining $300,000 Grant

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. secured a grant fro GEFA for $300,000 to install high efficient aerators in the City of Folkston's Wastewater Treatment Lagoon.  The City will be replacing old splashing aerators with advanced injection aerators with and increased oxygen transfer and mixing rate.  The project will reduce horse power at the plant by 35 HP and will save the City a projected $22,000 per year in electrical costs while increasing the effectiveness of the treatment train.  In addition to the waste water retrofits, building retrofits will take place to further increase the City's energy efficiency.

This is not the first stimulus money that the City has received this year.  P.C. Simonton & Associates Inc. helped the City secure $1,164,430 in federal stimulus money for the City's water expansion.

More information about the $300,000 Grant can be found at:
http://www.charltoncountyherald.com/articles/2010/03/31/news/doc4bb21849535e2814675283.txt
or
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-03-25/story/southeast-georgia-communities-get-energy-efficiency-grants

P.C. Simonton Sponsors Team for American Diabetes Association Fundraising Event

For the third year in a row, P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. sponsored a team in the Clay Shooting Tournament at Dorchester which is in its 7th year of raising money for the American Diabetes Association.  Despite the economic downturn, the tournament raised almost $40,000 this year which will go directly to the Association. 

The P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc team included company President, Paul Simonton and employees Marcus Sack, Justin Echols and Matthew Barrow.  The team placed 2nd in it's class.  Justin Echols finished the tournament with an overall score of 47 which was the third highest score posted for an individual.

Public Works Magazine Recognizes City of Folkston Project Designed by P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc.

Public Works Magazine published an article in their publication dated November 1, 2009 that discusses the challenges the City of Folkston had in expanding their wastewater treatment facility and how P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. assisted the City in overcoming these challenges.

The City's wastewater treatment facility was functioning as required, however the wetland system had not been meeting expectations.  The expansion of a nearby prison in 2008 put even greater demands on the facility and the City needed wastewater treatment equipment that would allow the facility to take on the larger flow created by the prison expansion.  The solution to the problem was a moving bed biological reactor (MBBR) system to upgrade the the lagoon. 

The entire article can be read by clicking the 'Read the Article link to the right or at:
 http://www.pwmag.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=1116678&artnum=1
 

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., Secures $1,164,430 in Grants for Folkston Water Expansion

A major expansion of the D. Ray James Prison took place in 2007.  The expansion was to happen in an extremely short period of time and would almost double the City of Folkston’s population.  For the City to capture and treat the prisons wastewater, a treatment facility expansion was necessary.  In comparing the prison’s timeline with what it would take to design, permit and fund a conventional expansion, it was evident that an alternative design route would be necessary.  P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. was able to add .40 MGD capacity at a minimal cost to the City within the 12 month deadline.  This expansion included a turn key moving bed bioreactor and the elimination of approximately 200,000 GPD of inflow and infiltration.

The City must now expand its wastewater treatment facility in order to meet immediate and projected demands on the public sewer system.  P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. assisted the City in securing Equity Grant funds that will be used for these sewer infrastructure improvements. 

To read about the most recent update on this project click here.

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., Assists City of Blakely in Obtaining $500,000 Grant

The City of Blakely was one of 23 Georgia cities receiving stimulus funds in a round of community development grants announced by Governor Sonny Perdue.  P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. assisted the City in applying for this grant along with an additional grants that the City expects to hear the status of shortly.  The $500,000 grant is earmarked for sewer improvements.  The funds will be used to replace sewer lines and provide manhole rehabilitation on Hogan Street and Evergreen Street.

This is not the first stimulus money that the City has received this year.  P.C. Simonton & Associates Inc. helped the City secure $1,100,000 in federal stimulus money for work that included smoke testing and video exploration of the lines to determine leaks and problems  and which lines can be repaired. 

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., Sponsors American Diabetes Association Fundraiser

For the second year in a row, P.C. Simonton & Associates Inc. sponsored the Clay Shooting Tournament at Dorchester.  This is  6th year the Dorchester event has raised money for the American Diabetes Association.  The turnout for this year's event was great and the tournament raised almost $40,000 which will go directly to the Association. 

Employees Matthew Barrow, Marcus Sack and Justin Echols competed for the P.C. Simonton & Associates team in the tournament.  Although they did not win, they enjoyed participating in a great cause. 

  P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. is proud to be a sponsor of this event and looks forward to next year's tournament.

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. participates in Hinesville's Wastewater Reclamation Facility Ribbon Cutting.

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. along with Mayor Jim Thomas, City Manager Billy Edwards and Fort Stewart garrison commander Col. Todd Buchs joined other state and local officials in the Ribbon Cutting for the New Wastewater Reclamation Facility for the City of Hinesville.

The City of Hinesville received a $300,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority earlier this year to help with the estimated $21.9 million project.  The City also received part of a $500,000 grant from the General Assembly in 2007 for water reuse projects in the surrounding counties.

This project was a fast track project to permit design and construct a 2.0 MGD facility in 30 months.  P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. served as the City’s designer and project manager on the project.  The project was completed on schedule and is supplying reuse water to a growing customer base.  In addition to the Water Reclamation facility, the project included design and installation of almost 100,000 L.F. of reuse transmission main.

Though the official opening and ribbon cutting for the new treatment plant was on November 18, 2008, it has been in operation since August.

City of Hinesville & P.C. Simonton & Associates Inc., Receive Award and Recognition from the Governor.

The City of Hinesville and P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. recently received recognition from Governor Sonny Purdue for leading the way in water reuse.  They were featured in the volume 18, number 8 issue of the "Georgia Municipal Association Georgia Cities Magazine.

The City of Hinesville is located within the yellow zone of the Coastal Georgia Water & Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Salt Water Intrusion June 2006.  This document has identified Hinesville and Liberty County as an area with limited increases in groundwater withdrawal for the future.  This document also stresses then need to conduct a feasibility analysis for water reclamation and implementation of a purple pipe system.

 Based on watershed protection needs and conservation of groundwater resources, the City began to develop the water reclamation customer base.  Utilizing a previously developed water reuse alternative analysis developed by Fort Stewart, the City prepared a plan to supply Fort Stewart with reclaimed water to meet two large needs.  The feasibility analysis identified the Fort Stewart central energy plant, plus the golf course and parade fields, as potential reuse sources needing between 209,702 to 838,807 gallons per day.  We have since talked with golf course personnel at Fort Stewart and found that their actual need during summer months is 2.0 MGD.  In addition, the City has contacted the Cherokee Rose Country Club with regard to their irrigation needs, and is in the process of negotiating a user’s agreement.  The City is also working out use agreements with the Board of Education and the Development Authority.

 In December 2006, the Hinesville City Council adopted a “Non-Potable Reuse Line” (NPRL) ordinance that requires purple pipe to be installed in all new developments.  Hinesville was the first City to adopt this type ordinance in Coastal Georgia.  Currently, plans have been approved for two large developments installing the purple pipe system with several more under review.

 It is important to understand that the two golf courses are currently utilizing water from the upper Floridian Aquifer.  The switch from groundwater to reclaimed water for irrigation could result in a reduction of up to 3.0 MGD of groundwater withdrawal from the upper Floridian Aquifer.

To deliver reclaimed water to these customers, the City is in the process of preparing plans and permitting approximately 30,000 linear feet of pipeline.  The estimated cost of this pipeline is approximately two million ($2,400,000.00) dollars and will be the beginning of a City wide system.

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., Recognized in "Georgia Trend Magazine

The City of Hinesville was recently recognized in “Georgia Trend Magazine” as a Trendsetter award recipient. The award was for placement of a fire substation in the lower section of a 2.5 million gallon water storage tank. The engineering consultant mentioned in the article was P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. It’s President, Paul Simonton was the lead engineer in developing the concept, the planning of both the water tank and the fire station concept, preparation of construction documents for the water tank, and representing the owner during construction of the tank.

The water tank was only one segment of a much larger project. The overall project included a complete water system analysis and the development of a twenty-year plan for the City. The City, at the time, was poised for a massive annexation effort and had to be sure they could meet water, sewer, roadway and drainage needs of the area to be annexed. P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc., performed a comprehensive service delivery evaluation, to insure services could be provided in a capital improvements plan that was presented to the City and later adopted. Once adopted, P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. put a plan into motion to begin implementation of the plan. The water tank and other improvements were the result of the project completed in the late 1990’s. The fire substation and associated site work was constructed later.

Employees Enjoy Company Fishing Trip

P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. employees enjoyed their 2nd Annual company deep sea fishing trip in August.  Charting two boats from Miss Judy Charters in Savannah, employees and spouses set sail for a full day of sport fishing.  The trip was a huge success!   The group came back with King Mackerel, Trigger Fish and Sea Bass. J. Tanner was able to reel in a Barracuda and Paul had the catch of the weekend with his 15 pound Red Snapper!