Scott council backs planning for new sewer plant and agrees to place 1% sales tax on October ballot

After a briefing by engineering consultants, the Scott City Council on Feb. 2 voted to begin planning for a replacement wastewater treatment plant and to put a 1% sales tax proposal on the October ballot to help pay for it.

Stefan Bourgeois of Fenstermaker & Associates told the council the existing plant is more than 34 years old, is operating at capacity and has exceeded its projected life. Council members heard a rough planning estimate that building a new plant could cost about $53 million and take roughly six years to complete. Councilman Montoucet directed staff to begin planning and design work so the city can confirm the proposed site will accommodate a new plant.

After that direction, Councilman Boudreaux moved — and Councilman Montoucet seconded — a motion to place a 1% sales tax on the October election ballot to secure funding and to begin the design phase. The motion carried unanimously.

The council did not adopt a final financing package or set detailed project milestones at the meeting; it voted only to pursue design, site confirmation and to seek voter approval for the proposed sales tax. If voters approve the measure in October, the tax would be used to help fund the multi-year construction project. The council will return with further design, cost and financing details in subsequent meetings.

The council’s action follows the consultant’s recommendation to start the multi-step process — planning, design, financing and eventual construction — and gave staff explicit direction to verify site fit before the city moves to purchase property for the project.