Special to the Herald

During its regularly scheduled meeting Jan. 7, the Effingham County Board of Commissioners ratified and approved an amendment to a grant award that is intended to fully cover the cost of design and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.

The original Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) Water/Sewer Infrastructure grant awarded in May 2023 was for $41.7 million. Later, OPB issued the first amendment to the terms and conditions, adding in contingency funding and increasing the total award to $45.8 million.

The amendment to terms and conditions approved at the Jan. 7 regular meeting increases the total funding to nearly $51. 6 million. These additional funds are solely available to address cost overruns in the approved scope of work caused by the unforeseen increase in the cost of goods and services that has taken place since the initial date of the award.

The funds may not be used for additional projects or project elements, or for changes to the approved project scope.

Later in Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners ratified a construction contract with Ruby-Collins Inc. for the Wastewater Treatment Plant project at a total cost of $45.8 million.