EDITOR:
On Nov. 5,voters in Platte City can vote on a measure that directly impacts the future of the community: a $24 million waterworks and sewerage system revenue bond to renovate and expand the city’s aging wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
This project isn’t just about keeping the infrastructure up to date. It’s essential for maintaining public health, meeting environmental standards, and accommodating the city’s growth.
The city’s WWTP needs significant updates and expansion to meet current and projected future capacity needs; and to stabilize the river bank to prevent damage and flooding of the plant and the main sanitary sewer interceptors. These improvements are not optional. The decision voters have is how to fund these necessary improvements.
The wastewater revenue bonds proposed on the Nov. 5 ballot offer the most affordable long-term funding options. By approving these bonds, the city should be eligible for lower-interest loans, which reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. Additionally, bond approval makes Platte City more competitive for vital state and federal grant funding—another way to minimize costs for the residents of Platte City.
As an example, if the bond passes and the city is able to secure a loan at 2% interest on $24 million versus say 4% over 20 years that is a savings of nearly $5.7 million in interest payments. That is approximately $300,000 annually in interest payments; or about $13 per household every month.
The current plant was built in 2000 at a cost of around $1 million. The projected cost to expand capacity and rehabilitate the existing plant is $24 million. These costs are anticipated to continue rising. This project is essentially duplicating the existing capacity and rehabbing what was built in 2000.
Many jurisdictions across the country are facing similar challenges. Increased environmental regulations impact the city’s current and future capacity, necessitating this project. Eventually the city’s current plant will max out and will limit future commercial and residential growth. This could include limiting expansion of the school district, grocery stores, restaurants, and other commercial and residential ventures.
It’s important to recognize that even without bond approval, sewer rate increases are inevitable due to the critical need for these renovations. However, with bond approval, the city can likely access funding sources that will reduce the long-term cost of this project, potentially softening the impact on residents’ utility bills in the future.
By investing in the city’s wastewater infrastructure now, the city not only ensures compliance with health and environmental regulations but also supports Platte City’s growth and vitality.
The work needs done in the next three to five years to remain compliant; but should be done now to save on future higher costs and potential river bank destabilization.
It won’t get less expensive the longer the city waits; and waiting risks getting out of compliance and being penalized by the state or the EPA and/or suspending growth in the future. The cost could easily go from $24 million to $30 million, or more, if the city waits.
Please get out and vote on Nov. 5.
--Ralph L. Rogers
Platte City Resident and
Chairman of The Committee
for Sustainable Growth
in Platte City
