Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews Lewis and Clark water expansion, first payment and possible utility surcharge
Summary
Councilors discussed commitment to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System expansion that would raise local capacity by about 509,000 gallons per day, the anticipated 2031 in-service date, and near-term finance options including a Feb. 1 payment of $335,185 and a potential bill surcharge.
Council staff updated the Beresford City Council on the town’s participation in the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System expansion, including projected capacity increases and finance considerations. Staff said the expansion would raise capacity from roughly 875,000 gallons per day to about 1,384,000 gallons per day, an increase of approximately 509,000 gallons, with the system expected to be operational around 2031.
Staff noted that the town faces a near-term payment schedule and that the first payment of $335,185 is due Feb. 1; one option discussed was a surcharge on utility bills to cover the town’s share. Council members and staff discussed bond sale timing, phasing the bond to reduce short-term rate impacts, and modeling scenarios with the finance committee before finalizing the approach.
Council asked staff to prepare scenarios showing the effect of different bonding or surcharge approaches and to report back with firmer numbers before a bond sale. No final decision to bond for the full amount or adopt a surcharge was recorded in the meeting; council directed staff to return with options and clarified that some system allocations remain fluid in later years.
