Etna Green council approves $30,000 wastewater preliminary engineering review to pursue state funding

The Etna Green Town Council on Monday authorized a $30,000 preliminary engineering review to ready a fundable wastewater plan and to meet an April 1, 2026 state revolving fund (SRF) application deadline.

Commonwealth representative Chris told the council the task order would produce a document that can be used for SRF and other funding sources, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "This contract is for $30,000 to complete that task," Chris said, explaining the town could be reimbursed if SRF funding is later awarded.

Council members emphasized urgency. One member said the town has tried grant routes previously and "we've got to start moving forward" to avoid pushing major work into 2028 or 2029 if the wastewater plant fails. Chris added that missing the April 1 SRF deadline would force the town to wait a year to reapply and could affect match and grant opportunities.

The council approved a motion to fund the preliminary engineering review; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The review is intended to establish a "fundable" master planning document that can be used for construction grant applications and for other funding programs if the town does not qualify for SRF terms.

Council members and staff also discussed options to limit rate impacts while moving forward, including borrowing strategies and staged implementation. No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

The contract authorization follows other town efforts to address water quality, and staff said documented resident complaints will strengthen future grant requests. The council directed staff to execute the task order and to continue pursuing grant and financing options.