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Abita Springs board authorizes pre-application for up to $2.5 million in sewer piping work
Summary
The Board of Aldermen voted to authorize the mayor to submit a Clean Water State Revolving Fund pre-application and to pursue debt not to exceed $2.5 million for sewer piping upgrades; council and residents pressed for clearer engineering estimates, plant-capacity analysis, and a repayment plan.
The Abita Springs Board of Aldermen voted to authorize the mayor to submit a pre-application to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and to incur debt “not to exceed $2.5 million” for sewer piping upgrades.
Alderman EJ Budro introduced the measure, saying the town’s sewer system "affects our real estate values and ... our safety" and that piping "is not adequate." Budro told the council the state water-sector revolving loan program could provide roughly $2 million toward the work and asked the board to approve a resolution needed to move the pre-application forward.
Council members and residents pressed for more technical and financial detail before committing to a loan. Several members asked whether a pipe-only project would create downstream costs at the treatment plant and whether the town had the bonding capacity to carry additional debt. The mayor and staff said the engineer had presented options, including a force main or pipe upgrades, and that a future meeting would supply more detailed construction and cost estimates.
Budro defended the schedule and the need to act. "The pre-qualification thing is a multi-page thing," he said, adding that the resolution was intended to let the town "place this project on the project priority list for funding through the clean water state revolving fund loan program." Council members agreed to change the resolution language to an amount "not to exceed $2.5 million" so the town would not need to reintroduce the measure if the engineer refines the estimate.
Public commenters expressed mixed views. One resident asked for time to review the paperwork before a vote; another, Scott Payne, spoke in favor of moving the application forward to begin solving a long-standing problem.
By voice vote the council approved amending the agenda to consider the measure and then adopted the resolution as modified. The adoption was recorded by voice with no opposition noted at the meeting.
Council members said next steps include convening engineers and staff to complete the pre-application, clarifying whether plant rehabilitation or an equalization basin will be needed, and assessing repayment options (including the possibility of forming a municipal utility district and a targeted MUD tax for portions of the Meadows development). The council also agreed to follow up on financing terms, potential loan forgiveness options tied to the water-sector program, and the engineer’s next assessment of exact construction scope and cost.
The council tabled two other pending resolutions and moved on to public comment before adjourning.
