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Weed approves application for $6.875 million USDA loan to upgrade wastewater plant
Summary
Council authorized staff to apply for a $6,875,000 USDA lending package to upgrade the Shastina wastewater treatment plant, increase capacity from roughly 295,000 to 800,000 gallons per day, and fund pumps, aeration, pond lining and a backup generator; a utility rate study will follow and the motion passed by voice vote.
The Weed City Council voted to authorize staff to apply for a $6,875,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund major upgrades to the Shastina wastewater treatment plant to address capacity and emergency‑response weaknesses.
Director Davis (S10) told the council the plant’s design capacity is about 295,000 gallons per day while current inflows are around 430,000 gallons per day; the proposed upgrades would raise capacity to about 800,000 gallons per day. Davis described project elements including emergency overflow improvements, replacement of effluent pumps, lining of ponds 1 and 2, upgrades to the aeration system, replacement of headworks and installation of a backup generator.
“This is the project that is very much needed,” S10 said, adding that the state has not yet imposed fines but the city risks operational failures if the plant is not upgraded. The director noted the city will require a utility rate study before any final project financing decisions are made and that USDA awards can sometimes include grant‑like reductions but that is not guaranteed.
Council members asked about cost to ratepayers; staff said they could not provide a definitive figure until the rate study is complete. After questions and a discussion of timing, a council member moved and another seconded a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit the USDA application and execute required documents; the motion carried by voice vote.
The council’s authorization permits staff to pursue federal lending options and advance engineering and permitting; final project approval and specifics on repayment terms and rate impacts will return to the council once the rate study and funding awards are clearer.
