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South Beloit moves forward on lift-station and force-main engineering; rate study, IEPA loan discussed
Summary
Council approved hiring Fairgram to assist with IEPA loan application for a new lift station and force main; staff said a rate study and likely sewer-rate increases will be necessary to secure state loan funding for a roughly $4.8 million project.
The City Council approved Resolution 6582 to contract Fairgram for engineering assistance with an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) loan application tied to the city’s lift station and force main project.
City Engineer Brandon told the council the project includes preliminary design, hydraulic and floodplain modeling, and a rate study required by the IEPA for loan qualification. “Part of that, the intended funding source is the IEPA loan...the project estimate was about the $4,800,000 range,” Brandon said. City Administrator Courtney added: “To do this project, we're gonna be forced to do a rate study…and probably increase rates.”
Staff described the force main under the Rock River as very old and at risk of failure. Council discussion noted the force main dates to the early 1960s and that prior discharge incidents have kept the project on the city’s critical list. Officials said the new alignment would shorten the river crossing, reduce long-term risk and make the system more reliable for decades.
Fairgram’s work under the contract will include IEPA application support, updates to the city’s sewer rate study to justify debt repayment capacity, and bid-ready documents. Council members emphasized the urgency: staff said IEPA oversight and potential enforcement create a continuing deadline to resolve the aging infrastructure.
Council approved the resolution on a roll call. Staff said next steps include completing the rate study, filing the IEPA loan application and advancing property-easement work required for final design and permitting.
