Elyria engineering staff told the Finance Committee on Aug. 11 that the city will advertise bids for an activated‑sludge aeration tank upgrade at the Wastewater Pollution Control (WWPC) plant, a project the engineer described as required under a wet‑weather consent decree.

Engineer Schneider described the scope as an upgrade that would increase the plant’s capacity from 32 million gallons per day (MGD) to 40 MGD, involving piping, equipment and related improvements. The estimate presented to committee was $10,800,000. Schneider said the work is one of the last large projects planned for the plant to meet the consent‑decree requirements.

Director Pileschi said the project is expected to be financed through a loan program; staff did not provide final loan terms at the committee meeting. The committee voted to approve an ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the work.

Committee members acknowledged the mandated nature of the work and the likely impact on utility rates. “When residents keep seeing your bills go up, I don't think they can fathom how much money the city actually has to spend in mandated [projects],” Councilman Oswald said. Schneider confirmed the project’s purpose is to meet consent‑decree performance requirements.

The committee recommended the ordinance to proceed to Council; staff said the item does not require an emergency declaration and financing details will be developed as bidding and loan documentation progress.