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Centerville council backs 1,000,000-gallon wastewater expansion after debate over costs and outreach
Summary
After public concern about financing and public outreach, Centerville's town council voted to support a resolution directing staff to pursue a 1,000,000-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant design, citing prior design work and grant efforts and emphasizing phased implementation and additional public information.
The Centerville Town Council voted June 4 to approve Resolution 10-20-26, signaling the body's support for expanding the town's wastewater treatment plant from 542,000 gallons per day to 1,000,000 gallons per day.
Resident Tim McCluskey opened public comment on the item, saying the proposal would reshape the town and urging the council not to proceed until the financing and public outreach were complete: “This project could commit the town to tens of millions of dollars in debt and fundamentally change the size of our community,” he said, noting a previously discussed $65,000,000 projected cost and an estimated $45,000,000 in loans after grants.
Council and staff answered that the resolution does not itself bind the town to a loan or immediate construction but provides guidance to staff as they pursue grants, meet with county and state partners, and continue detailed design and phasing work. Public works staff member Kip, who briefed the council on technical and economic considerations, told council members it is “economically better to go to the million” because prior design work, engineering costs already incurred since 2017, and funding applications are sized to the larger plant. Kip added that changing the design now would require a full preliminary engineering restart and could jeopardize credibility with funders.
Council members discussed phasing and outreach. The chair said the resolution is intended to give the current council's direction to staff rather than to commit future councils to a specific financing package or immediate build-out, and members asked staff to expand public information efforts about projected phasing, anticipated impacts, and grant-seeking progress.
After the discussion, a motion to approve Resolution 10-20-26 was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The council directed staff to continue public information and outreach and to pursue additional grant funding; any borrowing or contract awards will require separate, formal actions. The council also signaled interest in outlining phased triggers and public reporting so residents can track design, funding, and permitting milestones.
