Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Howard County council creates revolving loan fund to study and repair failing small wastewater systems
Loading...
Summary
The council passed a resolution to establish a revolving loan fund to pay upfront study costs and help repair failing small and privately owned wastewater treatment systems, with stormwater and Ready 2 grant dollars expected to seed the fund.
Council members voted to create a revolving loan fund intended to cover upfront study costs and help address failing small wastewater treatment systems in Howard County.
Councilman Lake, who presented the proposal, said the fund would pay for engineering and feasibility studies that counties and small communities often cannot afford up front. He said stormwater officials would seed the fund, and he reported that commissioners had secured about $200,000 in Ready 2 grant dollars that could be put toward the effort. "What we're asking the council to do is to pass a resolution to create the fund," Lake said, describing a plan to start with small projects and work the money back into the fund as construction moves forward.
Lake said his original plan called for a $500,000 seed from stormwater to provide substantial starting capital, but with the Ready 2 funds available the county could begin more modestly; he estimated the first project would likely cost about $100,000. He described the Taylor Township Regional Sewer District as the administrative vehicle that would assemble proposals, oversee billing and maintenance, and expand service without creating a new layer of government.
Councilman Alexander backed the approach as "forward thinking," saying similar revolving loans for ditch cleaning had worked well for the county in the past. Lake emphasized that once a project reaches construction phase, construction funding sources such as State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans or grants would be pursued and reimbursements would allow the county to reuse the revolving dollars for subsequent studies.
The resolution passed by voice vote. The council directed staff to proceed with necessary steps to establish the fund and to incorporate grant dollars when received. The resolution does not commit specific construction funding; it creates a mechanism to advance planning and studies so projects can compete for SRF and other capital sources.
