Franklin staff outline 2034 target for South Clean Water Facility; SRF design loan, public hearing set

City staff told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at its April 14 work session that planning continues for a South Clean Water Facility intended to add treatment capacity in Franklin’s southeast service area. Michelle, a city staff presenter, said the board’s selected alternative is a phased 6‑MGD plant (with two more 6‑MGD phases possible at the site), with the first phase targeted to be online around 2034 and provide planning capacity through about 2049.

“The intent is to construct a six‑MGD facility; two million gallons per day of that will receive advanced treatment and could be routed to the reservoir,” Michelle said. She told the board the project team has used prior consulting work by Hazen, secured a competitive ARPA reuse grant (about $5.6 million) for demonstration facilities, and that ARPA‑related tasks must be completed by July of this year.

Staff described a delivery approach that brings a general contractor on early (an open‑book, guaranteed‑maximum‑price style contract) to reduce cost risk and improve constructability. The presentation listed several preparatory infrastructure needs: multiple water‑main crossings and bores under Interstate 65, realignment projects to divert wastewater flow south to the new plant, and developer‑led infrastructure in some corridors.

Michelle said the city submitted a permit application recently; the reviewing agency has up to 365 days to act. She also outlined preliminary operations staffing estimates: a minimum of three operators per shift (nine operators), possibly increasing to 12, plus a superintendent, assistant superintendent and maintenance staff, with key supervisory hires to begin about six months before start‑up.

Staff emphasized the planned phasing is intended to balance capacity and cost. They said fully routing all six MGD through advanced treatment would be significantly more expensive and is not presently required by regulation. The board discussed alternatives (including higher single‑phase capacity) and noted the phased approach gives flexibility as development and growth patterns evolve.

Separately, staff presented a financing and design resolution (listed as a proposed SRF design loan) to authorize pre‑design borrowing and required application documents. The loan package presented includes roughly $17.69 million in design financing with $5.8 million described as principal forgiveness. Staff said design loans carry a short repayment term (five years) and that the board will hold a public hearing on April 28 to consider authorizing the loan documents.

Next steps: staff will pursue agency review for permitting, continue design planning and bring the SRF design loan authorization back after the statutorily required public hearing on April 28. The board did not take a final financing vote at the April 14 work session.