By a vote of 147 to 35, Holts Summit voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a $7 million revenue bond issue to rebuild the city's sewer system.
Holts Summit voters also re-elected Jason P. Michael, who was unopposed, to a two-year term as a member of the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen in Ward 1. He received 66 votes.
No one filed by the filing deadline for a two year alderman term in Ward 2 for the seat held by Paul Buckley, who decided not to seek re-election. Landon Oxley mounted a write-in campaign for the position. Oxley had 14 write-in votes and nine others had one vote each.
Keith Edwards, Holts Summit Sewer Department superintendent, said approval of the $7 million sewer bond issue will allow the city to build a new wastewater treatment plant capable of handling from 600,000 to 700,000 gallons of wastewater each day.
Edwards said work will start immediately on the project. The first step is to contact the city's consultant, All State Consulting of Columbia, to sell the revenue bonds for the project. The bonds will be repaid from sewer system user fees.
The next step will be to develop detailed plans for the project to get it ready for construction.
Edwards said construction of the new wastewater treatment plant and additional sewer lines will make the city's operation much more efficient and economical.
"This also will allow the city to meet the new regulations that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources plans to require us to meet next year," Edwards said.
Edwards said every resident of Holts Summit would be added to the city's system, eliminating use of current septic systems.
"We also will consider eliminating the Choctaw Lagoon and installing a pumping station. This would allow us to eliminate that permit and all of the associated maintenance for the lagoon," Edwards said.
The plan permits automation of numerous lift stations.
In the past, Holts Summit was forced to pipe some of its sewage to Jefferson City for treatment because it lacked sufficient facilities for treatment.
Edwards said he plans to maintain a sewage connection with Jefferson City as an option to make use of, if the new treatment plant needs maintenance or a sewer main needs repairs. "We want to keep our options open for an emergency. We would not send sewage on a regular basis to Jefferson City. It would be for emergency backup only," Edwards said.
Passage of the bond issue also means sewer service will be extended to five new areas of the city.
One area is at the end of East Simon Boulevard. The second area is along the Van Horn and Julie Lane area. The three remaining areas include some residences without current city sewer service south of East Center Street along South Summit Drive.
Other election stories today:
Jefferson City voters take trash issue to curb
Two incumbents re-elected to Jefferson City council
Youngest candidate takes most JC school board votes
Walker, Stumpe get the nod for JC municipal court positions
Cole County school districts, towns pick officials
Siegel re-elected to Board of Aldermen in New Bloomfield
Two new school board members chosen at New Bloomfield
Incumbents return to South Callaway School Board, Laughlin takes open seat