TUESDAY, September 15, 2026|
Photo – 2002 sewer project in Saratoga – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials have chosen a contractor for sewer work under the North Platte River despite no guarantee of additional state funding.
The Town of Saratoga is undertaking major sewer and water infrastructure improvements. Earlier this year, Cheyenne-based Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel was hired to perform the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project. The contractor repaired and replaced roughly 7,000 feet of deteriorating underground water lines on the west side of town. The project was paid for using 6th Penny Specific Purpose Tax funding.
Speaking at the September 2nd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner announced that Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel finished the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project. As is standard in a construction contract, the town withheld a retainage payment of $103,136 to ensure the work was done properly. With the required waiting period now over and no complaints filed, Penner asked the governing body to release the final payment.
The town council unanimously voted to release Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel’s $103,136 retainage.
With the West Bench Sanitary Project complete, Public Works Director Emery Penner is preparing to begin the next phase of water and wastewater upgrades, known as the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements Project. Penner described the work as “technically complex.” It involves replacing aging sewer lines under and alongside the North Platte River, building new manholes, and reinforcing the entire system to reduce the risk of future failure and potential harm to the river ecosystem.
The town issued a request for contractor bids. Back at the September 2nd town council meeting, Public Works Director Penner reported that he received five bids, with prices separated by approximately $2.5 million.
Engineering Associates, which designed the river sewer project, estimated that the work should cost $3,033,255. Oftedal Construction of Casper submitted the lowest bid at $3,199,535.90, or just over $166,000 beyond the engineer’s estimate. The highest bid was from American West Construction out of Denver, Colorado, which came in at $5,697,853.
Penner recommended accepting Oftedal Construction’s bid to replace the sewer lines beneath the North Platte River.
Oftedal Construction’s bid, combined with an additional 20 percent for engineering and related project costs, brings the total to $3,839,443.08. The town received a $3.15 million grant from the State Revolving Fund, leaving $689,433.08 unfunded. Roughly $475,000 of the remaining share is to be paid by the town. Since prices were higher than expected, Penner said he will request additional funding from the State Loan and Investment Board.
Penner said he expects the new funding request to be approved, but the town must hold a public hearing and draft a resolution before the State Loan and Investment Board meets on October 1st. He said he won’t know with certainty if the grant will be authorized until that meeting.
In the meantime, Penner said lead times for high‑density polyethylene pipe have increased. He said waiting until the October 1st SLIB meeting will push back the project start, which is likely to cause further delays.
Penner asked the governing body if they were comfortable awarding the contract to Oftedal Construction knowing the town would have to cover the remaining $475,000 if SLIB denies the funding request. With $1.1 million in the sewer enterprise fund, he said the town could pay the remaining amount.
Penner said the Water and Sewer Joint Powers Board, which oversees the town’s municipal water and wastewater systems, recommended awarding the bid before receiving a decision from SLIB.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked what impact paying the unfunded portion of the project would have on the sewer enterprise fund. Public Works Director Penner said the town has enough grant money to cover the majority of the project. However, if required to finance the remaining balance, he said the town would need to add funds to future budgets to recover the costs.
Mayor Davis asked if Penner had any additional major water and sewer infrastructure work scheduled. The public works director said that once the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements Project is finished, his crews can take care of small items while the town rebuilds the sewer enterprise fund.
The town council agreed that postponing the project would only increase the cost and unanimously voted to award Oftedal Construction the sewer replacement contract before receiving confirmation that the State Loan and Investment Board will approve another grant request. The governing body also agreed to hold a public hearing on the funding application at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22nd, in the Saratoga Town Hall.
