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Lincoln County commissioners back regional wastewater study and agree to support EDA funding pursuit
Summary
Presenters outlined a 3.1 MGD mechanical wastewater plant concept for Canton with a $108 million full buildout estimate and requested a county letter of support to join a coalition seeking Economic Development Administration grants; the commission approved providing a letter of support.
Steve Watson, managing partner at Teton Ridge Consulting, and John Stearns, general manager of South Lincoln Rural Water Systems, presented a 2025 feasibility analysis on creating a regional wastewater system serving Canton, Worthing, Lennox and Beresford.
The study proposes a 3.1 million-gallon-per-day mechanical treatment facility sited in Canton, with roughly 1,000,000 gallons of built-in reserve capacity. "Our engineering firm came up with a top line cost of a $108,000,000 for the full build out of the project," Stearns said. Presenters described the mechanical plant as easier to expand than lagoon-based systems and better positioned to meet tightening state ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen limits.
Watson outlined funding pathways and asked the commission to consider a letter of support as part of a multi-jurisdictional coalition. He said the group intends to pursue the Economic Development Administration’s readiness path for planning (estimated planning grant around $200,000–$250,000) and later the EDA transformational pathway, which can provide up to $50,000,000 toward project costs. "We would like to pursue the readiness path initially that will allow us to do some additional project planning," Watson said.
Commissioners questioned phasing, rate impacts and whether the plan would attract commercial or industrial taps that could expand the customer base. Presenters said phasing decisions, conveyance routes and construction timing remain to be determined and that the readiness planning grant would include a rate study so residents can understand potential cost impacts.
Following public comments and questions from commissioners, the board moved to support the coalition effort and to provide a letter of support for federal funding applications; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. The presenters said they are not asking the county for construction funds now but requested the endorsement to strengthen competitive grant applications.
Next steps: the coalition will pursue initial planning funds from the EDA and return with further cost, phasing and rate information; commissioners asked to receive the planning deliverables and a draft letter of support for review before formal submission.
