WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett gave a brief update Monday on the village’s plan to build a wastewater treatment plant.
The village currently pipes waste to a treatment plant in Three Rivers, and a sewer treatment contract between the village and Three Rivers expired in 2016.
USDA offers a long-term loan through World Development, Honeysett said, and building a plant would cost about $8 million, an amount less than staying a customer of Three Rivers.
There is an opportunity for grant funding, Honeysett said.
Earlier this month, the council adopted a resolution to begin a series of steps to receive funds from World Development. Discussion centered on issuing bonds, one possibility to fund a low-interest rate loan for 40 years to upgrade the plant.
There is no plant to upgrade. It was dismantled and the sub-standard buildings destroyed or abandoned for more than 20 years.
Honeysett said building a plant would cost about $8 million. That’s more than he originally quoted and less than the $9 million in bond debt. You can bet it will cost more. Always does.
Honeysett says $8 million for a new plant is less than staying a TR customer. That $8 million does not include operational costs. No small expense. Just who will run the day-to-day sewer operation?
How does the Village plan to handle the noxious MMPA discharge that their pre-treatment faciilty already fails to control?
What becomes of the multi-million dollar pipeline (one a few large “assets” in the budget report) to Three Rivers?
Village history has shown that you cannot solely rely on whomever you hire to operate the plant. You have to have educated oversight to deal inherent problems. Who in the village government has such expertise?
$9 million +plus is a huge debt for a small village. If you believe this is the best option, then provide full information and seek widespread citizen input and put the issue on the ballot for a referendum vote.