Evening star., 1951-08-22
Board Seeks Aid
ToGet 0kay for
Sewage Plant
Arlington Accepts
$2,498, $50 Revised
Bid on Addition

bS VII
The Arlington County Board
has decided to ask the help of
the Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River and other agencies
in its effort to get National Pro-
duction Authority clearance for
a proposed sewage treatment plant
addition.
At special meeting last night.
the board accepted "a revised
bid of $2,498,980, submitted by
Thompson-Starrett Co., Inc. New
York contractors.
The bid omits about $375,000
worth of equipment and conStruc-
ton, most of which will have to
be provided later through an ad-
ditional appropriation. The bond
issue approved for the project
amounts to $2,617,000.
If a contract for $375,O0O worth
of projects is awarded within a
year to Thompson-Starrett, the
firm will do the work at that
price. However, if none of this
work is done within that period,
the firm will be reimbursed a
sum of $4,000 incurred for out
of-pocket costs because of this
deletion."
The board rejected a proposal
by Board Member Daniel A..
Dugan that the sewage plant de-
sign submitted by Alexander Pot
ter Associates of New York, the
county'S consulting engineers, be
submitted to "a referee" to de-
termine whether costs could be
lowered.
Economy Provision.
The acceptance of the Thomp-
Son-Starrett bid, however, carried
a provision suggested by Board
Member Robert w. Cox that
members of the board, the county
manager and other officials are
free to- suggest to the engineers
possible economies that would
not delay the project.
Mrs. Florence Cannon, the board
chairman, urged the drive to get
NPA approval as soon as possible.
The county filed an application
for approval June 18.
We've responded to the pleas
and directiveS of these various
groups" Mrs. Cannon said. We're
ready now and we don't want to-
be caught in shutting papers and
new directives."
The agencies to be contacted,
in addition to the Potomac COM
mission, are the Virginia Water
Control Board, the United States
Public Health Service and the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Dugan'S Objections.
The board heard M. H. Kleger-
man of Alexander Potter ASsoci-
ates reply to a series of questions
by Mr.. Dugan, regarding construc-
ton of the plant. The board men,
ber's principal contention was
that he had been advised that the
plans call for excessive use of re-
tnforcing steel. He also made OBJ
lection to proposed construction
of 6-foot parapet on top of the
main building, an ornamental
stairway, ornamental stone at the
coff.o V1no of tho ~ q IN h1,iIdian ond
use of glazed tile from floor to
ceiling in some rooms.
Mr.. Klegerman said reinforced
steel is less expensive than other
types of construction, and that
some floors and walls in the plant
must be of special construction be-
cause of a constant threat of cor
rosion and other hazards.
The parapet, ornamental stair
way and stone work were defended
by Mr.. Klegerman as attributes of
plant to which the community
could point with pride.
Sewage treatment plants now
aday aren't the sort of thing where
you tell your children to turn
their faces away when they pass,
Mr.. Klegerman said.
Cox Fears Delay.
Mr.. Cox said he opposed the
parapet, ornamental stairway and
some other items. He said he
could not go along with Mr.. Du-
gan's proposal, however, because
too many changes in the design
would result in delays which might
increase the cost of the job.
Russell D. KoonS of the Thomp-
Son-Starrett firm said costs have
been rising at the rate of from
l to Ia per cent per month.
Mr.. Dugan was asked by Coun-
ty Manager A. T. Lundberg to
SubStantiate or retract a state
ment the board member had made
indicating that "the sewage treat
ment plant deal smells of five per-
centers."
Mr.. Dugan said he was not re-
ferring to any county employe or
member of the board.
Mrs. Cannon expressed diSsatis-
faction with Mr.. Dugan's reply.
Unless you specify exactly what
you mean by five percenters," she
declared" your disclaimer means
nothing to me-"
Mr.. Dugan declined to amplify
his statement.