Staff outlines multi‑year wastewater and stormwater projects and potential bond issuance

Town staff presented a multi‑year plan for wastewater and stormwater projects during the March 18 work session and described how a bond issuance could fund prioritized construction and engineering over the next several years.

Staff reviewed projects that are near completion (Parkwood/Cottonwood/Raintree) and outlined the Pump Station 32 to Pump Station 24 project (a gravity flow sewer line to relieve capacity on the Highway 31 corridor), which was the subject of the earlier tree‑clearing authorization. Staff said the Pump Station 32→24 scope was broken into phases and included renovating force mains and pump stations with construction phased into 2025–2028 depending on need and capacity. The South Clarksville build‑operate‑transfer sanitary sewer work has a sanitary portion near $1,000,000, which staff said would be reimbursed to the redevelopment commission from wastewater funds. Staff also flagged preliminary engineering and studies for Blakiston Mill rear‑yard sewers and Broadway corridor upgrades and discussed prioritizing projects to avoid backyard impacts except in emergencies.

Staff noted the town previously planned a larger issuance and that interest rates had tripled since a prior issuance four years ago; the presentation included a projection of multi‑year totals and an explanation that the town could pursue IFA funding options to reduce borrowing costs. Council asked for clarifications on sequencing and whether some work could be combined; staff said capacity and cost considerations guided the phasing and that the goal was to keep a wastewater bond issuance around $10 million while balancing priorities.