Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water And Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Engineers say Canton water and sewer systems are at risk; council will apply for USDA funding
Summary
Following a WHKS engineering report that described a 'significant' risk of failure in Canton’s aging water and sewer systems, the City Council voted March 9 to apply to USDA Rural Development for financing of a recommended $11.3 million overhaul.
CANTON — City engineers told the Canton City Council on March 9 that the city’s water and wastewater systems face a “significant” risk of major failure, and the council voted to apply for federal funding to pay for a recommended overhaul.
Engineers from WHKS summarized a 509‑page preliminary engineering report and recommended an "Alternative 1" plan that the firm estimated would cost $11,326,000. The plan calls for replacing decades‑old water mains (including sections with lead joints), upsizing lines to improve flows and pressure, rehabilitating about 75% of sewer mains, drilling a new well (Well #3) to replace the century‑old Well #1, building a new well house for Well #2 and Well #3, rehabilitating the water tower and replacing aging equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. WHKS presenters included Kevin Graves, Daren Sikkink and Ella Carlson.
"The risk of major failure is significant" for the present water system, WHKS told the council, noting many original pipes date to the 1910s and that the wastewater network has widespread deterioration; the report says 15% of sewer piping requires immediate attention and another 15% will fail within 10 years.
WHKS said roughly $10,422,000 of the project could be eligible for USDA Rural Development assistance; based on census figures the firm said Canton likely meets the program’s poverty‑level eligibility criteria. Under the scenario explained to the council, eligible costs would be financed with a 40‑year low‑interest loan for 25% and a 75% grant for the remaining 75% — the firm cited a grant amount of $7,816,500 for the eligible portion if approved.
After the presentation the council moved to pursue federal funds. Councilmember Carl Ernst made the motion to apply for Rural Development funding; Josh Nordsving seconded, and the motion carried.
Brock Bergey, the city clerk, later noted the engineering report and funding options are the first steps; the WHKS team and city staff will continue refining project scopes and cost estimates as applications move forward. The council did not adopt a final project design at the meeting; it approved only the application step to seek Rural Development financing.
Next procedural steps include preparing the formal USDA application and pursuing additional funding or cost‑sharing opportunities the report identified. The council did not set a public timeline for construction; any project schedule will depend on funding awards and subsequent engineering phases.
