The City Council will consider asking voters Monday to approve a bond issue that would allow the city to expedite needed sewer-related projects.
Jefferson City has approximately $44 million in sewer-related projects to do, but lacks the funds to do them in a timely manner. The City Council on Monday will consider putting a bond issue on the April 2022 ballot to fund the projects.
The City Council approved a sewer rate increase in June, which would fund the projects. The rate increased by 2 percent on the July bill and will increase by an additional 5 percent annually until 2027. Bonding would expedite the work.
Public Works Director Matt Morasch said the rate increase allows the city to look into financing options for the projects, such as a bond issue, because it means there is funding to pay the bonds back. The bond issue would allow the work to be done sooner than waiting for money to come in from the rate increase.
If bonding goes through, it won’t make any additional changes to the sewer bill rate beyond what was approved in June.
The Jefferson City sewer line extends out into neighboring communities such as Holts Summit and St. Martins, which contract with Jefferson City for sewer services.
The list of known projects the city needs to do includes replacing three pump stations, 1 meter replacement, reworking the line at eight locations and updates to the city’s biosolids processing plant.
If the system has compliance issues with the Environmental Protection Agency, the city could be forced to come into compliance and face fines — which could force a sharp increase in rates. By getting ahead of it, that either wouldn’t happen or have a smaller impact.
Morasch said the city dealt with compliance issues in 2014, but they weren’t as severe as they could have been because Jefferson City was already doing work and had a plan in place to address those issues.
Consent agenda
• Declaring four police vehicles, six parks vehicles and one parks tractor as surplus property and authorizing the disposition of it by sale.
• Approval of Clarke Power, of St. Louis, for three years of general maintenance. The bid includes work at fire stations 4, 5 and 2, parking garage, several sewer pump stations and City hall.
• Canceling special tax liens to the tune of $48,814 related to 311 Cherry St.
Bills introduced
• Amending Chapter 29 of the city code, which refers to sewers and sewage disposal, to accommodate state and federal clean water laws.
• Amending Chapter 29 of the city code, which refers to sewers and sewage disposal, to incrementally increase the surcharge for high strength waste from 2.8 percent to 5.8 percent over the next six years.
Bills pending
• Establishing election dates and candidate filing period for the 2022 municipal elections.
• Amend the 2021-22 budget to include Sales Tax H.
• Approve a final subdivision plat to replat a section of the Capital Mall.
• Assign the names of “Patriot Drive” and “Lion Way” to private streets near Lawson Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle schools.
Resolutions
• Authorizing an application for Historic Preservation Fund grant for phase 3 of a West Main Street survey.
• Authorizing an application for Historic Preservation Fund grant for design guidelines.
How to participate
The City Council will meet in person 6 p.m. Monday but will have a virtual option due to COVID-19 and social-distancing recommendations.
Community members can attend the meeting at the council chambers in City Hall, 320 E. McCarty St., or view the meeting live via the city’s YouTube page.