SIMPLE MAJORITY NEEDED FOR PASSAGE
What city officials describes as necessary improvements to the city’s sewer plant will be on the ballot in Platte City on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
A yes/no question about a $24 million waterworks and sewerage system revenue bond to renovate and expand the city’s aging wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) will be decided. A simple majority is needed for passage.
“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,” says Ralph L. Rogers, a Platte City resident and chairman of The Committee for Sustainable Growth, a committee that formed to support passage of the city’s ballot question.
“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,” Rogers continues.
Proponents say 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 will reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.
Supporters say that additionally, bond approval makes Platte City more competitive for 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 two percent interest on $24 million versus say four percent 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,” Rogers says.
The city’s current sewer 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. This project is essentially duplicating the existing capacity and rehabbing what was built in 2000, proponents say.
“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,” said Rogers.
Supporters of the measure say it is important to recognize that even without bond approval, sewer rate increases in Platte City 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,” Rogers said.
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, proponents state.
“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,” Rogers said in a letter to the editor in the Oct. 16 edition of The Landmark.
“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,” Rogers believes.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The polling site in Platte City is the Platte County Community Center North (YMCA) located at 3101 Running Horse Road.
Early voting is open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the Platte County Board of Elections, 2600 NW Prairie View Road, Platte City. Voting is open till 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 2.
