Marion council approves engineering agreement to position city for $23M wastewater phosphorus upgrade
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Summary
The council voted to approve an engineering agreement with Horner Shifrin to design upgrades aimed at meeting a new EPA/Illinois phosphorus discharge limit (about 0.5 ppm by 2030). The agreement clears the way to apply for low-interest funding and possible debt forgiveness; the measure passed with one abstention.
The Marion City Council on a 3–0 vote with one abstention approved an engineering agreement with Horner Shifrin to design upgrades at the city wastewater treatment plant aimed at meeting a new phosphorus discharge limit set by state/EPA regulators.
The move, advanced by staff and engineering consultants, is intended to improve filtration and add chemical-precipitation processes so the plant’s effluent will meet a rolling annual phosphorus limit of roughly 0.5 parts per million by Jan. 1, 2030. Brent Williams, who described the project to the council, said the work will also improve removal of suspended solids and make disinfection more efficient.
Why it matters: Federal and state regulators are tightening nutrient limits because of algae blooms and other environmental harms downstream; securing an approved engineering agreement before the EPA funding deadline improves the city’s grant and loan application score and may increase the chance of low-interest loans and debt forgiveness.
Brent Williams, the consultant leading the presentation, summarized the technical approach: “There will be chemical precipitation,” he said, “and then the filters obviously take that out, take the solids out, the particulates.” He told the council the current daily permit target is about 1 ppm and the new requirement is “basically 0.5 parts per million, on a rolling annual average.”
Williams said the preliminary project estimate is about $23,000,000 and that engineering is needed to firm up design and final cost. “Until we really know what the concrete number is, I mean, we’re at $23,000,000 right now,” he said. He added the city typically scores well for funding because of demographic criteria and expects to seek a funding package soon; he noted recent maximums for statewide debt forgiveness programs have been about $6,000,000 in recent years.
Council action and votes: A motion to approve the engineering agreement passed after discussion. In the roll call, Commissioner Patton recorded an abstention; Commissioners Webb and Stecklen and Mayor Absher voted yes. Council members and staff said engineering would not begin until funding decisions and bond steps were clearer.
What comes next: Staff will submit the signed engineering agreement as part of the city’s EPA funding package and proceed to final design only after funding and bond options are confirmed. Council members flagged that customer rates may increase when construction and long-term financing are finalized.
Sources: Presentation and discussion by Brent Williams and staff to the Marion City Council. The council discussed EPA deadlines for funding and technical design steps and completed a roll-call vote approving the agreement.
