City adopts resolutions to seek funding for wastewater and storm sewer projects

Madison City Commissioners held hearings and adopted resolutions during their meeting on Monday on the city’s intent to apply for funding for it’s proposed wastewater and storm sewer improvement projects.  

The city is seeking up to four-point-five-million dollars in funding for the wastewater system project, and up to four-point-two-million dollars for the storm sewer project.  Commissioners intend to seek funds from the state Board of Water and Natural Resources in the form of either grants from the State Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program or loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program.  The city will also request funding from the USDA Rural Development Office, in the form of grants or loans.  

At the start of the hearing Monday, City Engineer Chad Comes explained how the wastewater system project came to be.

Comes explained what the wastewater project will entail.

Comes said it also includes more than eight-thousand feet of liners for sanitary sewer mains.  

Greg Maag with First District Association of Local Governments is helping city officials with the funding applications.  He said the deadline for the city’s application for loan funds is due to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources by January 1st and they should have a decision from the department by the end of March.  Maag explained what the city’s payment may be if a four-and-a-half-million dollar loan is approved by the state.

Maag said that the city will possibly look at a wastewater revenue surcharge to help pay for it. 

Maag also said that there is no deadline for the city’s application for funding from  USDA Rural Development, but they hope to have that submitted by mid-January. He said the city could also be eligible for grant funding from both the state and federal agencies.  

As far as the application for the more than four-million dollars in funding for the city’s storm sewer project, Maag said they will approach the same agencies with the state and federal government.  For re-payment of these loans, Maag told commissioners that the city may have to look at it’s second-cent sales tax.  

City Finance Officer Jennifer Eimers told commissioners that there are a lot of moving parts with the funding of these projects.