Wastewater facility improvement plan approved at Boyceville
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The Village Board accepted a wastewater facility plan as present by Pat Morrow from the engineering firm of MSA out of Rice Lake.
The plan calls for upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Facility’s lagoon aeration system as well as upgrades to the collection system including sewer rehabilitation and lift station upgrades.
Morrow told the village board that because of industrial use of the treatment facility, Boyceville has the volume of wastewater compared to a community with a population of 8,000 people.
Morrow’s report listed that the village’s collection system, “consists of approximately 46,500 linear feet of gravity sewer lines and 170 manholes. Approximately 16,285 feet and 65 manholes, are original, and in need of further investigation, and possibly rehabilitation. The three lift stations need pump replacement and various upgrades or rehabilitation now or in the near future.”
The plan addresses needs in the collection system, lift stations and the aeration system upgrades at the treatment facility.
The total estimated cost of proposed plan is estimated at $7,207,000 and Morrow went into much detail of how it can be financed. His report stated that “general principal forgiveness cap per municipality had increased from $750,000 to $2 million dollars. Based on the estimated project costs and eligible percentage, the village may receive principal forgiveness of up to two million dollars. This results in a sewer rate of approximately $51 per month or $612 per year. The present rate in the village is $22.00 per month.
Morrow went into detail about a financing package and compared a USDA Rural Development loan of 40 years to 20-year loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Fund Program. He explained about the planned upgrades having a life span of 20 years and cautioned about financing on a 40-year loan on improvements that have a 20 year useful life.
Morrow’s report also stated; “At an average annual cost of about $264 per household and an estimated population of 1083, the Village’s current sewer rate of $264 per year is below the state average of $460.” The report continued; “After the final funding package is established and the new sewer rates are set, the village’s projected sewer rates would be above the average, likely in the range of $612 per year if funding is awarded through the Clean Water Fund Program.
After the board approved the plan, they needed to set a date for a public hearing on the proposed plan and construction time line. The Village board set a public hearing for the October Village Board meeting. The timeline includes submitting a facility plan to the DNR and other paper work by the end of October, and by the end of January of next year have received DNR comments and by June 2023 submit plans and spec to DNR and commence construction by April of 2024 with a completion date of July 2025.
