Hearing set for project that will hike sewer rate

A public hearing has been set for Village of Fredonia residents to provide feedback on plans to upgrade its wastewater facilities.

The hearing is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. There is also a 30-day public comment period required by statute, and the plans need to be approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The village is planning to make millions of dollars of improvements to the facility, and last month approved increasing sewer rates by 24.77%, on top of a 23% increase approved in spring, to help pay for the work. A third increase is possible next year.

Many upgrades replace much of the 40-year-old equipment at the plant. The typical lifespan of those items is around half that long.

Work is broken down by need. The top priority is to convert the primary clarifier and biotower into an aerobic digester for $2 million. The biotower filter is leaking and not pumping at full force, and the structure is faulty, according to the priority list. The primary clarifier is working but not efficiently.

Removing and installing a new chemical phosphorus building would cost $1.5 million. The toxic chemical feric chloride has caused the building to deteriorate and created an unsafe environment for employees.

Adding a third clarifier and a highly efficient, nonclogging pump would cost $2.3 million. The plant has two pumps that are frequently used. A third would be able to handle daily fluctuations.

Replacing the mechanical screen, bringing the building to code, replacing the roof and creating a breakroom would cost $1.6 million. The screen has reached its 20-year lifespan and a new one could catch more soil and debris moving through the system, reducing clogs or failures.

Strand and Associates of Madison estimates the project will cost $8.2 million, but the village plans only to borrow $6.2 million. The board, Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins said, will prioritize which projects to complete.

“The intention has always been to give flexibility to the Village Board to ultimately choose what projects they want to do,” Jenkins said.