The Benton Township Board of Trustees is looking ahead to 2027 as it prepares for more improvements to the water and sewer system.
Speaking to trustees on Tuesday, Steve Oosting of engineering firm Prein and Newhof said if the township’s going to seek funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planned sewer projects, it needs to prepare the necessary documents now and then hold a public hearing before submittal to the state.
Oosting told us the tentative projects include work in the area of Plaza Drive, Napier Avenue, and Norton Avenue.
“It’s similar to what the township’s been up to in recent years of continuing to invest in replacing and upgrading aging infrastructure in the sewer system,” Oosting said.
The township must go through the same process for loans through the State Drinking Water Revolving fund for water projects. They’ll include a new water main across I-94 near Nickerson, a new reservoir at the water treatment plant, and water main replacements in the Higman Park area.
Oosting says a lot of township work has been financed with loans through the state revolving funds.
“They are low interest loans. There is always the possibility of principal forgiveness with this program, and so we won’t know until later in the process how much, if any, principal forgiveness may be available.”
Oosting said major projects underway now are 100% funded with grants through these state programs, but that is unusual.
Trustees approved two contracts with Prein and Newhof to prepare the paperwork for the 2027 loans. Each contract came at a cost of $18,000.
