$3.5M construction project approved by Apache Junction sewer district board

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A $3.5 million sewer district operations and maintenance building is to be constructed in Apache Junction.

The Apache Junction Sewer District Board voted unanimously Aug. 26 to approve the construction bid from BFL Construction Co. Inc. at a cost not to exceed $3.5 million to be paid from the capital and replacement fund.

It is to be constructed by October 2026 on sewer district property at 5661 S. Ironwood Drive and is to include a two-story pre-engineered metal maintenance building with office, control room, storage and maintenance bays. The building is also to have a flexible storage area and vehicle lift to the second story, according to a notice and call for bids.

Eight bids received by the district by July 30 from a request for bids ranged from $4.6 million by BFL Construction to $7.4 million by Econosmart Property Services dba Signature Projects, according to a bid opening log.

Items were removed or materials changed from the contract — such as a $400,000 parking structure — to get the total cost reduced for the planned 6,400-square-foot building, District Manager Darron Anglin told the board.

The sewer district is an independent, public, nonprofit entity developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.

Board members to the sewer district are appointed by the Apache Junction City Council.

Members of the district board serve as volunteers who are responsible for setting policy and rates, adopting a budget and other high-level decision making regarding all aspects of the district’s operation and on-going business affairs.

By state law, board members cannot own 40 acres in the district, cannot be an employee or agent of a landowner who owns 40 acres or more in the district, cannot be an employee of the city or the county and cannot be an elected official of the city or county.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.