Work is anticipated to begin soon on one of the city of Jefferson’s utility facilities.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant will have improvements and upgrades to comply with the new discharge requirements from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Jefferson City Council approved at their meeting in January the third and final reading to amend an ordinance to increase the sewer rates to 15-percent for each of the next five fiscal years to pay for over $16 million project. City Administrator Mike Palmer says the Council had to make an adjustment to the original increase of 11-percent, because the total cost had skyrocketed from about $12 million to $16 million.

“It’s unfortunate that it has to happen but in order to secure the bonds and loans that we had to do to make this project happen, that was the path we had to take was this increase of 15-percent per year for the next five (fiscal) years.”   

Palmer gives an updated timeline of the start of the project.

“There’s certain preliminary things they have to do about getting ready to get the sludge out of the tanks, demolition work should start either late February or early March. But probably start seeing some equipment moving here anytime now.”  

The increase in sewer rates will begin at the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1st. Palmer anticipates the project to take about two years to complete.