South West Illinois News

City of Waterloo Joint Ordinance & Water-Sewer Committee met July 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Meeting Called to Order: 6:10pm

Committee Members Present - Darter- C, Notheisen, Heller, Trantham, Hopkins, K Buettner, M Buettner, Row Others Present – Tom Smith, Tim Birk, Nathan Krebel, Shawn Kennedy, John Weiter (HMG)

Agenda

1. Petitions by Citizens on Non-Agenda items – None

2. Water Project Update

John Weiter distributed 3 Packets

Original January 2019 – 20 Year Amortization Water Treatment Facilities

July 2022 – 20 Year Amortization Water Treatment Facilities

July 2022 – 30 Year Amortization Water Treatment Facilities

Lengthy discussion about Pros/Cons of the 20/30 Year Plans and how they could best benefit Waterloo Utility Customers.

In past meetings Committee Members discussed the possibility of using City Funds to reduce the Loan Amount to decrease the breakeven point of Paying for the Water Plant versus the Rising Costs of Water purchased from Illinois American.

After discussion the Committee felt a better plan may be to use the 30 Year Loan and set aside Funds to pay the difference between Debt Service (Approx. $3.7 Million) and rising Illinois American water cost without raising the Customers Bill. Currently, Illinois American has requested a 23% rate increase. The City has $1.3 Million in ARPA Funds committed to the Water Project and when the EPA Loan is dispersed the City will recoup $1.2 in Engineering Costs that has already been paid for. Notheisen made a motion to recommend the 30 Year Loan, 2nd by Row, unanimous.

When the Water Plant is operational, The EPA requires the Facility to be manned 2 hours per day, 5 days per week. When chemicals are being added, 2 Employees would be required on site.

If the IEPA Loan is not approved in January 2023, it’s possible we may need to use the $1.3M ARPA Funds to Bid and Pay for “Long Lead Time” materials to ensure the Project can be completed on time.

3. Water Plant Bonding Ordinance

Due to rising construction costs, Notheisen made a motion to set the Water Bonding Ordinance at $35Million, 2nd by Heller, Unanimous.

K Buettner predicts that we will be back to increase this amount again.

4. Comments – None

Motion made by Notheisen to adjourn, 2nd by Hopkins, meeting adjourned at 6:53pm.

https://www.waterloo.il.us/wp-content/uploads/JOINT-Ordinance-Water-Sewer-Cmte-Mtg-Minutes-07-18-22.pdf