The city of Benton Harbor is seeking some improvements at the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant.
City commissioners this week voted to issue a notice of intent to seek up to $20 million in sewage disposal system joint revenue bonds for the work. Commissioner Ethel Clark Griffin was concerned about what this could do to city finances.
“It said no financial [ impact ] at the time, but then it could become,” Clark Griffin said. “Also, what I didn’t like, working with finance and business and all that, I did not like the fact that it stated about a Revolving Funds. We know revolving funds means it can continue to go up.”
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said this is just the first step and no actual money is being borrowed yet.
“The sewer infrastructure is in need of, as we can see our streets, serious repairs and upgrades,” Muhammad said. “And that’s no secret. But at this time, this is just a notice of intent.”
Among other things, the notice of intent notes items like sewer rehabilitation, the replacement of aeration channel air piping, new stainless steel piping, new slide gates, and a new diffuser system as being among the needs at the plant. The notice states the city would seek low-interest loans from the Revolving Fund administered by EGLE and the Michigan Finance Authority.
Muhammad said before any money is actually borrowed, the city would need to hold a public hearing and the commission would need to vote.
Opposing the notice of intent this week were Commissioners Clark Griffin, Juanita Henry, and Emma Kinnard.
