A nearly $40,000 contract to evaluate the City of Ketchikan’s wastewater division is in front of the Ketchikan City Council on Thursday.

The contract with CH2M Hill has been recommended by Public Works Director Mark Hilson. He writes in a memo that he has had concerns for a while about the division’s performance.

He says that poor performance led to a failure to meet required Environmental Protection Agency effluent limitations during April. Hilson writes that the failure prompted solicitation of a proposal from CH2M Hill, which has worked with the city previously on its water treatment projects.

If approved by the City Council, the engineering and consulting firm would evaluate the wastewater division’s operations and maintenance, and make recommendations to improve the overall system. Hilson writes that starting this evaluation process would show the EPA that the city is taking the April failure seriously.

Also Thursday, the City Council will vote on a resolution honoring Captains Randy and Sheryl Skelton of the Salvation Army for their volunteer work operating a warming center for local homeless people during the winter.

Thursday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.