Santaquin opens and closes public hearing on sewer revenue bonds for WRF upgrade; no public comment

The Santaquin City Council opened a formal public hearing on July 19 to consider issuing sewer revenue bonds to finance upgrades at the city’s Water Reclamation Facility, then closed the hearing after no members of the public signed up to speak.

Council members and staff said the WRF, completed about 2012, is under pressure because the city’s population has more than doubled over the past decade and earlier engineering projections under‑estimated growth. The council discussed that the city has roughly $9–10 million already set aside toward an estimated $12 million cost of the planned upgrades; the bond would cover the remainder and — according to staff — is expected to be repaid through growth rather than by a direct rate increase on current ratepayers.

The mayor said the city has a high credit rating and can use a bond to finance the project. Staff and council emphasized that the bond has been studied against growth projections and that the anticipated debt service will come from future development. After a brief opportunity for public comment — none was taken — the council closed the hearing; no formal bond issuance vote was taken at the same meeting.

Next steps: staff indicated the city will continue with the design and financing process for the WRF upgrade and that bond adoption would be a future formal action once terms are finalized.

Officials cautioned that, while the project was described in the meeting as largely growth‑funded, specific repayment terms and any impacts to rates or connections would be determined as financing is completed and would be brought back to the council for formal approval.