Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Troy board authorizes submittal of wastewater facilities plan to DNR after public hearing
Summary
After a presentation by Applied Technologies describing aging treatment-plant equipment and the need for lift-station upgrades, the Village of East Troy board voted to authorize submitting a wastewater facilities plan to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Consultants warned the work would raise average residential sewer bills and set a
Leo Cousek, project engineer with Applied Technologies, presented a refreshed wastewater facilities plan and recommended submitting it to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for formal review.
Cousek told the board the plant needs multiple upgrades: improved preliminary screening to keep trash out of treatment processes; corrosion and safety repairs in the large treatment building referred to as "Structure 30"; replacement or major servicing of the belt-filter press that has served about 20 years; and additional sludge/biosolids storage to meet the DNR's 180-day storage expectation. Cousek said components throughout the plant require replacement but that the plan seeks to reuse existing tankage and structures where feasible.
The presentation also covered several lift stations. Cousek said the School Street lift station is in design, Honey Creek lift-station work is proposed but planned for later in the decade, and carrying out treatment-plant and adjacent lift-station work together would provide mobilization efficiencies.
On rates, Cousek displayed a preliminary estimate showing the average residential quarterly sewer bill at about $188 now and projecting as high as roughly $292 per quarter if the Honey Creek lift station and the treatment-plant debt are both financed as presented. He characterized the figures as conservative and said they incorporate a separate, more comprehensive rate-study input provided by village staff.
Cousek explained the proposed timeline: the board would accept public comment for 10 days after the hearing, then staff would submit the facilities plan to the DNR. The DNR's review typically starts a roughly 90-day clock; Cousek said he expected comments back before year end and, with board approval, design could be ready early in 2026 and construction on phase 1 could take about two years.
President Johnson opened the public hearing on the plan; no members of the public offered comments and the hearing was closed.
A motion to authorize submittal of the wastewater facilities plan to the Department of Natural Resources was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The board did not record individual roll-call votes when the motion passed.
What happens next: staff will accept any written comments during the 10-day post-hearing window and, with board approval, forward the facilities plan to the DNR for formal review. The DNR review and subsequent design phase will determine final costs, timing and any changes to the scope.
