Hearing set on sewer rate increase

Havreites will have an opportunity at 7 p.m. May 18 to express their views on a proposed sewer rate increase.

City officials say they don’t know how much the increase will be yet, but say it will be substantial, perhaps 40 percent.

The cost of the hike is largely due to a federally mandated construction of a massive addition to facilities on the north side that are estimated to cost about $9.3 million. The contract has been award to Dick Anderson Construction Co. of Great Falls.

City officials have to complete work on the bonds for the project before determining the amount of the increase.

Public Works Director Dave Peterson said officials were disappointed that the bids for the project came in as high as they did. The city looked at the possibility of removing some items from the project, but decided to go ahead with the project as planned.

But City Council’s Finance Committee decided Monday night to have bonds go over 20 years instead of 25 as originally proposed. That will save about $500,000 over the 20 years, Committee Chair Woody Woodwick said.

Peterson said Anderson will have a preconstruction meet on the project this week and hopes to begin construction by May.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency insisted on the upgrades, ato keep pollutant emissions from the Milk River.

Similar projects are being mandated around the country.