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Spring Hill holds public hearing on proposed $128 million, 5 MGD wastewater plant; council approves funding applications and Bucyrus LOI
Summary
At a Feb. 26 public hearing, Spring Hill officials outlined plans for a new 5 MGD wastewater treatment plant with an engineer's estimate of $128 million and authorized filing for state revolving fund financing; the council also authorized a letter of intent regarding the Bucyrus sewer system.
A public hearing Tuesday night opened discussion of a proposed new wastewater treatment plant for the City of Spring Hill that would begin with an initial capacity of 5 million gallons per day (MGD) and is sited near Ten Mile Creek and Sweetwater Creek, officials said.
Rhonda Dunn, the city's finance director, told the council the engineer's estimate to build a 5 MGD plant is $128 million and that the city will seek grants and loans from state and federal programs, including State Revolving Fund financing and Water Infrastructure Financing. Dunn said the city's goal is to minimize any impact on user sewer rates and to cover the funding gap with grants, new revenue streams and state and federal funding; historically the city has increased sewer rates by about 5% and the current monthly rate is $10.48 (Johnson County Wastewater, by comparison, is $10.85 and the City of Gardner is $10.35).
Mayor Young opened the public comment portion of the hearing and, hearing none, closed it at 7:15 p.m. During the citizen participation period a resident, Bill Peterman, later spoke about incentives and referenced Bucyrus sewers in his remarks.
Separately under formal action, the council approved Resolution No. 2026-R-05 to authorize filing an application with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for a loan under the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Act to support wastewater infrastructure financing. The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmembers also authorized the Mayor to enter a Letter of Intent describing key terms of a potential asset purchase transaction between the Board of County Commissioners of Miami County and the City of Spring Hill regarding the Bucyrus sewer system and infrastructure; that motion also carried unanimously. The LOI sets only preliminary terms and does not itself transfer ownership.
The council did not take a final financing vote or adopt construction contracts for the wastewater plant at the Feb. 26 meeting; staff said the public hearing is a step in the application process for state and federal funding. Next steps identified in the meeting record include pursuing grant and loan applications and further public meetings as required by those funding programs.
