Village has to spend money to get money from sewers

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

July 22, 2008 06:26 pm

— GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — You have to spend money to make money, Geneva-on-the-Lake Mayor Frances Cervas said, as the village looks to borrow $35,000 for street and sewer improvements.
In an effort to boost revenues in a tight fiscal year, council decided in March to update the village wastewater treatment plant in order to accept septage from other towns. This plan could bring as much as $60,000 per year into village coffers, Cervas said.
The updates to the wastewater treatment plant include $11,700 in engineering costs, $7,000 in jet repair costs, $3,600 for the retention basin and $2,000 for other sewer equipment. Culvert repairs on South Geneva Street, a $7,000 cost, are also needed, the bond ordinance reads.
The money, which will be repaid through the street and sewer funds within five years, will be lent by Andover bank at 4.25 percent interest, solicitor Kyle Smith said.
Council has long pondered the revenue-generating power of the village sewer system. In April, council increased sewer rates by 10 percent to help buffer the government’s tight $1.8 million budget.
The village accepted septage into the wastewater system several years ago, but stopped because of wear and tear on the wastewater treatment plant, Smith said.
“This is very concentrated stuff,” Smith said. “One thousand gallons of septage equals 50,000 of sewage, which is why most places don’t accept septage.”
Cervas said village workers recognize the toll septage will take on the pumps and equipment and will take care to monitor and update the wastewater system as needed.