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City reports potential federal funding and site adjustments for new wastewater treatment plant
Summary
Staff told the council that ALTA and boundary surveys for the planned wastewater treatment plant found active pipelines across the preferred site, which may force a small site shift; the city also reported applications for federal appropriations that could provide up to $15 million for the plant and related projects.
City staff told the Newcastle City Council on April 14 that engineering and surveying for the new wastewater treatment facility remain underway and that ALTA/boundary work discovered several underground pipelines crossing the preferred site. Staff said the lines appear to be active and that the engineering firm is evaluating whether the plant can remain at the chosen legal parcel or whether the site must shift a few hundred feet eastward. The council was told the survey team is completing drone footage and pot‑holing work to determine final placement and feasibility.
Staff said the project has drawn several draws on construction financing and that contingency funds have not yet been tapped. The council heard that the overall project cost to date is roughly $40 million, with recent draws noted in the financial report.
City officials also reported they had submitted federal funding requests through Congressional offices; staff said they had applied to Representative Tom Cole’s office for appropriations that could provide up to $15 million and planned to submit identical requests to Senator Mullin’s office for four projects, including the MBR plant site, the Tri‑City sewer line relocation, Country Club improvements and Northwest 204th. Staff said these appropriations would be for construction and relocation costs if approved through the federal appropriations process.
Council members asked whether relocation of pipelines would be feasible and what costs the city might bear; staff said most utility relocations would be paid by the turnpike/OTA construction except that where the city requests upsized capacity (for example upsizing a sewer main), the city would pay the incremental cost to upsize.
Staff said a clean‑water test at the new plant is planned for the next month and that, if results are satisfactory, the facility could open quickly — staff said July was a target month for the plant to begin operations, though that date remained contingent on testing and final site work.
