Wastewater agency: WIFIA modification cleared; Springfield decommissioning to be reimbursed

The Sarpy County and Cities Wastewater Agency reported that federal WIFIA lenders have signed off on requested loan modifications and that the agency will seek board and county approval to accept the modified loan documents.

Agency Administrator Dan Hoynes said, "about 24 hours ago, they signed off on all of our modifications," and that once the modified documents are processed the agency and Sarpy County staff will review them for formal submission to the board and the county board.

The package approved by the lender includes three items the agency sought: reimbursement of Springfield decommissioning costs, allowance to abandon certain county lines in place, and authorization to begin design and permitting for Phase 1B (the “blue” lines) and Phase 2 (the “green” lines) shown in the project's master plan. Hoynes said the agency is recommending a reduced final WIFIA draw: "Our loan is for $45,000,000. We are projecting upon completion of phase 1A and all of the modifications that our projected borrow will be south of $33,000,000." He said staff will recommend whether to close the loan at roughly $33,000,000 or continue draws.

Project engineer Jeff Thompson described construction work at the Springfield wastewater treatment plant and follow-up tasks tied to the decommissioning scope. Thompson said Hawkins has finished modifications at the Springfield plant, cleanup and seeding are underway, and staff will move remote SCADA operations into the facility in two to three weeks.

On decommissioning costs, Thompson said Sarpy County provided correspondence from the Nebraska Department of Transportation allowing the agency to abandon pipe in place while removing air-release structures and lift-station components. He said that approach "significantly reduced the cost of the removal," which staff estimated at about $1.6 million for complete removal versus roughly $375,000–$400,000 for leaving main line piping in place and removing only structures and lift components. Thompson noted NDOT's caveat that if roadway widening later requires removal, the agency would be responsible for that future work.

Thompson also outlined coordination about a new Gemini facility near Capehart and Highway 50 whose cooling system uses glycol. He said the facility will discharge infrequently to the sanitary sewer and that the agency is coordinating with the cities and Sarpy County so Omaha — which treats that flow downstream — can ensure the discharge chemistry will not upset biological treatment processes.

The board did not take a separate formal vote solely on the WIFIA modification in public session; Hoynes said the lender has begun processing documents and staff will return with the modified loan package for formal approval by this board and the Sarpy County board.

The agency's next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24, 2025.