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Wildwood council authorizes steps to reexplore sewer extension to Pond Historic District
Summary
Council voted to ask staff to reengage the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and to get updated engineering cost estimates to examine extending public sanitary sewer to the Pond Historic District (area including Old Pond School and Living Word Church). The recommendation is fact‑finding only; property owners would likely bear most construction costs through a Neighborhood Improvement District.
The Wildwood City Council on July 13 voted to authorize staff to reengage the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and to request updated engineering cost estimates to revisit extending public sanitary sewer to the Pond Historic District, a portion of Wildwood that includes Old Pond School and several institutional users.
Director of Planning (referred to in the record as Director Vonage) told council the Planning & Parks Committee recommended two fact‑finding steps: (1) recontact the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to see whether it would serve the area in 2026 and (2) ask the engineering firm to provide updated cost estimates. "The committee was ... agreeable to this, and that agreeability was the first step to engage the engineer," Director Vonage said.
Staff reminded council that an earlier effort about eight years ago identified a Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) as a financing mechanism; institutional uses such as Wildwood Middle School and Living Word Church supported that plan while many residents opposed it then. Director Vonage said most of the project cost would likely be borne by property owners under a NID structure, similar to the town‑center sewer project, and that the city would pursue fact‑finding before advancing any formal financing plan.
Council members pressed staff about how many properties would be affected and how votes are counted for a NID. Planning staff said the determination historically depends on acreage thresholds (roughly 50% by area required for approval) rather than a one‑vote‑per‑parcel test. Staff estimated dozens of parcels would be involved (a list “a page or two” long) and that interest among owners is currently tepid, with a primary proponent being one property owner who stands to gain from regionally accessible sewer service.
A council motion to proceed with the two fact‑finding steps (made by Council member Kranz and seconded by Council member Bakker) passed by voice vote.
Director Vonage emphasized the public‑health rationale for reconsidering sewer service in the area. "If you go down there on a hot summer day, you'll know that there's ill or untreated sewage in the area," he said, urging the council to at least re‑explore options.
Next steps: staff will contact the sewer district and ask the engineer for updated cost estimates; the council has not committed to financing or to a NID at this stage.
