The city of Ouray took another big step forward Monday in what’s been a long journey toward building a new wastewater treatment plant.

City councilors unanimously agreed to pay Boulder-based engineering firm JVA $749,800 to design the plant to 90% completion. Councilors also formalized a decision from last month to pay $111,270 to Moltz Construction to manage the design of the project as the construction manager-at-risk.

JVA has worked alongside city officials for the last few years as they’ve...