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Sarpy County approves 10-year wastewater connection; agency will decommission lift station
Summary
On July 1, 2025 the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners approved a 10-year connection and wastewater service agreement that will convey county wastewater to the City of Omaha treatment plant, decommission a county lift station and establish cost-sharing for removal of a two-mile force main.
Sarpy County commissioners on July 1 approved a 10-year connection and wastewater service agreement with the local wastewater agency that will allow county customers to discharge into the agency system, which will convey flow to the City of Omaha treatment plant. The board approved the contract by a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Kelly absent.
The agreement formalizes terms first set out in a memorandum of understanding and covers metered billing, connection fees, compliance with Omaha interlocal provisions and decommissioning of the county lift station that has served the area for about seven years. "I'm just asking for your approval of the connection and wastewater service agreement between Sarpy County and the agency," said Kevin Ballantine, project manager for the agency.
Ballantine told commissioners the agency agreed to pay $1,600,000 toward removal of a roughly two-mile force main that runs along the west side of Highway 50 and crosses north of the Omaha National Cemetery. He said the county expects the actual cost to be lower if the Nebraska Department of Transportation allows abandonment in place — a savings the county estimates at about $300,000 to $400,000 — but that the board has agreed the county would pay any costs above the agency's $1.6 million estimate.
Ballantine said the county has been operating the lift station and discharging north of the hydrological boundary for about seven years and that the lift station has been idled since the connection was operationalized. He said the agency installed a flow meter last year and that usage will be metered on 30-day periods; the county will collect and remit connection fees and user fees approved by the agency.
The agency board approved the agreement on June 25. Ballantine also noted capacity for future development in the basin: "Looking at another 800 acres that could develop will yield the agency another $24,000,000 when it gets built out," he said.
Motion to approve the agreement was made by Commissioner Warren and seconded by Commissioner Mixon; the board recorded four ayes and Kelly absent. No executive session was requested during the meeting.
The county will await a response from the Nebraska Department of Transportation on whether the force main can be abandoned in place; that decision could reduce the removal cost and change the county's potential out-of-pocket expense.
