Civil Engineering

Municipal Engineering involves many aspects of city infrastructure.  Planning for the maintenance of existing utilities, construction of new facilities and determination of future needs will allow for the most economical use of city funds and staff.

Maintaining the Present

McGhie and Betts provides a wide range of engineering services for many communities in the region. 

Our firm helps to maintain and improve the following infrastructure for our municipal clients:

• Sanitary Sewer Collection
• Water Distribution
• Storm Water Treatment and Detention
• Sewage Treatment
• Street reconstruction and expansion

Planning for the Future

We can also help communities plan for the future by expanding their municipal needs:

• Water Supply - Wells, Towers and System Analysis
• Wastewater Treatment Plants - Expansion and Renovation       
• Sanitary Sewer Systems - Rehabilitate and New Construction     
• Inflow and Infiltration Studies   
• Utility Maps and Inventories     
• Grants and Municipal Aid Assistance
• Feasibility Studies

Just as important as the design of your project is the quality of the finished product.  Our project management will provide the necessary communication and oversight between the owner, designer and the contractor in order to maintain proper progress.  Our inspectors will help to insure that the construction materials and methods used will conform to pertinent codes, permits and specifications.

Services Include:

• Processing Contracts
• Obtaining Notice to Proceed
• Field Observations of Construction
• Plan and Specification Conformance
• Maintaining Schedule
• Quality Control
• Permit Compliance
• Process Payments
• Substantial Completion, Punch List and Final Approvals
• Record Drawings

The key to Project Management at McGhie & Betts is the full range of services we provide.  Our design staff works hand-in-hand with our inspection staff.  Project Managers work with the Survey Department and the Construction Material Testing Department to keep projects on track with quality construction.

Site Grading plans and Erosion Control Plans allow for economic growth while protecting our existing wetlands and waterways from surface runoff of pollutants or sediment.  These plans will utilize construction and erosion control methods that conform to local, state and federal regulations while still satisfying the owners’ requirements for an economically viable and aesthetically pleasing development.

With 65 years of experience, our professional staff has produced hundreds of grading and erosion control plans for a variety of private and municipal clients.  Our projects range from several hundred acres to individual lots.  We provide services for:

• Residential Development
• Commercial Sites
• Office Buildings
• Industrial Parks
• Rural Subdivisions
• DES Erosion SWPPP Control Plans

   

The Grading Plan Process at McGhie & Betts:

• Conceptual Layout
• Client Review
• Governing Agency Review
• Final Plan

As funding becomes more of a challenge for municipal improvements, the need for designing and building the most cost effective properly sized water system has never been more important.  From the crucial initial feasibility studies and concept designs to the final operation testing and system start-up, our engineers experience will provide the guidance necessary for a water system to meet both present and future needs.

Services Include:

• Digital Mapping of Distribution System
• Computer Generated Network Analysis
• Cost Estimates
• Plans and Specifications
• Project Management

Studies and Recommendations for:

• Water Distributions
• Artesian Wells
• Pumps
• Pump Houses
• Elevated & Ground Storage
• Booster Stations
• Multi-Level Systems

Our Projects Include:

• Comprehensive Water Studies and Network Analysis for Chatfield, West Concord, and Rochester, Minnesota

As funding and environmental issues become more critical, the construction of new treatment facilities or the remodeling of existing ones becomes more complex.  Municipal waste treatment facility projects involve research and feasibility analysis, value engineering design, construction coordination and inspection in order to provide the most economical facility now that will still provide service for the future.

Services Include:

• Collection Systems
• Trunk Sewers
• Mains
• Lift Stations / Forcemains

Treatment Facilities:

• Inflow/Infiltration Studies
• Feasibility Studies
• Renovation / Reconstruction / Expansion
• New Facilities

McGhie & Betts remains up to date on the latest regulations for discharge requirements for systems that serve anywhere from one home to large cluster systems that treat over 10,000 gallons per day.  Agency regulations continue to become more restrictive and require advanced treatment to meet discharge standards.  MBI can design your system to meet these high standards.

MBI manages numerous cluster systems in southeastern Minnesota.  Facilities require inspections anywhere from weekly to bi-annual.  We believe that by providing our clients with design and management services we have the ability to minimize the operational cost for the life of the system. 

Services & Systems

• Onsite sewer treatment system design and Management for Public, Private or Association owned systems
• State Disposal System permitted systems
• Individual systems less than 5,000 gpd
• Midsized subsurface sewage treatment systems from 5,000 to 10,000 gpd
• Large subsurface sewage treatment systems over 10,000 gpd
• Weekly to bi-annual site visits

Certifications

• MPCA certified Inspector
• MPCA certified Service provider
• MPCA certified Advanced Designer
• Class B Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator

As our wetlands and waterways come under increased pressure from existing and proposed development, it is becoming mandatory to control and treat surface runoff.  Our experience and knowledge enables us to meet all the local, state and federal requirements for run-off treatment and volume control while still retaining the project viability.

Services Include:

• Sedimentation Control
• Storm Water Detention
• Bank Stabilization
• Erosion Control - NPDES Compliance
• Water Quality
• Wetland Delineation

McGhie & Betts is a multi-disciplined firm that utilizes professional engineers, geologists, and technicians to solve complex issues and create the best solution for our clients.

With the combination of professional experience, technology and our commitment to maintain the integrity of the environment, we can successfully complete your project.  

Feasibility Studies are performed for a variety of public and private sector projects.  They range from evaluating a small site for a specific use to large scale projects of potential mixed-use development and single purpose public projects.

Feasibility studies identify and evaluate potential development constraints both physical and political.

These may include:

• Steep Slopes
• Subsurface Soil Conditions
• Wetlands
• Drainage
• Land Use and Zoning Regulations
• Annexation
• Open Space Requirements
• Utilites
• Traffic Impacts

McGhie & Betts, Inc. has the personnel, experience and in-house disciplines to thoroughly evaluate soil and environmental issues, water resources, drainage, and infrastructure needs.  We are able to reduce a clients' risk through completion of quality feasibility studies, coupled with cost estimates, concept plans, designs and preliminary engineering.  This approach assists in creating the best solution by balancing efficiency with aesthetics and density with marketing assets.

Many environmental and engineering issues are associated with remodeling and demolition projects.  Environmental issues are becoming more critical in the removal or remodeling of existing structures.  Our Environmental Division can provide assistance in defining hazardous material, specifying removal methods, and inspection during removal to assure conformance with local, state and federal regulations.

Services Include:

• Project Design, Inspection and Management
• Tank Removal Consultants
• Household and industrial hazardous waste removal project and regulatory compliance.