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Regional coalition outlines $108 million wastewater plan centered in Canton
Summary
Lincoln Regional Wastewater Systems presented a coalition plan including Canton, Lennox, Worthing and Beresford for a phased regional wastewater solution, with DGR estimating a full buildout cost of about $108,000,000 and the next step a costly PER and competitive EDA funding bids.
John Stearns, representing Lincoln Regional Wastewater Systems, told the Canton City Commission the group has formed a multi-jurisdiction coalition to pursue a regional wastewater solution and is proposing a mechanical treatment plant sited in Canton.
"The cost at the top line right now, we have a $108,000,000," Stearns said, describing the full buildout that would include conveyance from Beresford, Lennox and Worthing. He said the project would be phased and that the initial phase likely would be a smaller, scalable plant rather than the full 3.1 million-gallon configuration envisioned in DGR’s framework.
Stearns said the coalition hired engineering and planning teams, including DGR and local consultants, and that next steps hinge on an expensive preliminary engineering report (PER). "That PER is very expensive," he said, and the readiness pathway they will pursue through federal disaster-related funding is intended to cover nonconstruction design costs so the coalition can establish governance, service areas and rate implications.
Commissioners and residents pressed for details on who could connect to the regional system beyond participating towns. Stearns said connection policy and governance — including whether South Lincoln Rural Water or a separate Lincoln Regional Wastewater entity would own or bill for wastewater service — would be determined in the PER and subsequent governance documents.
Stearns also described letters of support the coalition has gathered from the cities of Canton, Worthing, Lennox and Beresford, Lincoln County and the state governor’s office of economic development, and said the group plans to submit competitive applications to the Economic Development Administration and other funders.
The presentation concluded with staff saying the coalition will work with county and regional partners on application assembly after the turn of the year and will return with more definitive scope, timeline and cost-to-rate estimates once the PER and funding decisions are advanced.
