PRAIRIE GROVE — The City Council voted 5-3 Monday to go ahead with construction of a new $9.4 million sewer plant.
The council voted to approve the ordinance increasing city sewer rates by $13 a month over a four-year period, paving the way for the construction of the sewer plant following a public hearing that brought out about 15 residents.
“I believe this city government has acted in good faith at every turn,” said Ron Stinchcomb, a Prairie Grove real estate agent, speaking in favor of the new sewer plant. “I’m not excited about the $13 sewer rate increase, but I think people understand that it is necessary.”
The sewer plant was initially projected to cost $5.8 million in preliminary engineering studies, City Public Works Director Larry Oelrich told the crowd during his presentation during the public hearing. That was in 2005. When the bids were opened earlier this year, the low bid for construction came in at $7.7 million. Add to that $1.25 million in additional engineering costs, and the sewer plant cost has nearly doubled — a fact Viney Grove resident John Everett found distressing.
“Construction costs haven’t doubled in four years, and if they have, why are we just now hearing about it?” Everett asked the council.
Voting against the sewer rate increase ordinance were council members Fred Collins, Eugene Hamilton and Marquita Smith.
Council members Stan Roemer, Buddy Lyle, Paul Pair, Matt Shreve and M’Laine Tyree voted in favor of the ordinance.
“I’m not voting for this ordinance because I believe we are putting too much of a burden for the working people and single parents,” Hamilton said.
Besides approving the sewer rate hike ordinance, the council also unanimously approved a resolution seeking $4.25 million in funds, including $2,841,000 from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, to be repaid at 2.75 percent interest, and $2 million in principal forgiveness funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The council also awarded the sewer plant construction bid to Crossland Heavy Contractors of Rogers, who had the low bid of $7,723,500.
Collins voted against the resolution awarding the bid.
The next deadline in the process is getting the project under contract by Feb. 17, Oelrich said. He expects construction to begin in March, with the project being completed in 2011.