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Council accepts $1,001,720 in match‑free DEP funds for wastewater dewatering upgrades
Summary
The council accepted an amended Clean Water SRF principal forgiveness award that increases prior engineering funds to $1,001,720; staff said the money is match‑free and will help advance dewatering upgrades and related wastewater projects without additional city match.
Ellsworth's public works director told the council the city had been offered additional match‑free money from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to advance wastewater dewatering upgrades and related projects.
Mike Harris said the city had an established working relationship with DEP funding staff and that money from projects that fell through elsewhere was offered to Ellsworth. The principal forgiveness funds raise the city's available match‑free money for these projects to $1,001,720. Harris said the funds would be used for the dewatering upgrade that is part of a roughly $4 million program, and that the city is pursuing additional grants and SRF funding to close remaining gaps.
Consultant Brent Bridges (Woodard & Curran) explained that the new funds carry Davis‑Bacon and Buy American provisions typical of federal funding flows attached to SRF and related programs. He said prior procurements have complied with those conditions and that the city has competitive bids for key equipment. Council voted to accept the amended principal forgiveness funding and authorized the city manager to execute required documents.
Why it matters: The funds reduce the city's match requirement and help keep a multi‑million‑dollar wastewater upgrade on schedule, potentially avoiding rate impacts and improving plant operations. Staff emphasized phased work and ongoing grant applications to fully fund the project.
