Sewer Upgrade in Limbo

The Mountain View City Council met in special session on December 20 to discuss funding issues regarding planned repairs to the municipal sewer system. Due to the age of the system, replacement and sleeving of current sewer lines was planned. According to the draft minutes of the council session, Mike Hartman from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) addressed the council about rising costs of the sewer project. 

Hartman explained a total of nine million dollars would be needed to complete the project. The original budget was set at $6 million. He added that there has been a fifty percent price increase on construction materials and labor within the state of Missouri. 

Mayor Donnie Pruett refused an interview to discuss these changes. However, Alderman John Krasuski explained in a phone interview the original $6 million budget was made possible by a $3 million USDA grant and a tax bond approved by voters, funding the remaining balance.

During the session, Hartman discussed a few options with the council that could resolving the lack of funding. First, he suggested the funding issue could be taken back to the ballot for voters decide. Second, the project could be pushed aside to seek out other grant money to cover the cost. Third, Hartman suggested looking at where the six million sat to see whether any cuts could be made. 

Alderman Krasuski made first a motion during session to put the project on hold and to authorize Mayor Pruett and the Mountain View City Financial Officer to pursue grants from the Small Community Engineering Assistance Program (SCEAP) through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. All were in favor. 

Despite the current sewer system being maxed out and old, the renovation project could be in limbo for six months to a year, Krasuski confirmed in the interview.