The plant is the single biggest project the EWSU is working on.
While a single topic, it required several votes for items like new water bond debt approval, agreeing to pay nearly $8 million to a designer to draft plant plans, and taking advantage of federal lead service line replacement programs.
“Our water treatment plant is the most important asset our community has,” said EWSU Executive Director Lane Young. “I've said this multiple times in different settings, but think of the way the body works. The water treatment plant is the heart that pumps the blood out into our system.”
The plant has sections that are 125 years old, and according to Young, it needs to be replaced.
Now, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will need to approve the requested bond funding for the project — which was recently increased to $270 million to account for increased costs and partaking in a federal lead service line program.
“They (IURC) had gone through all kinds of work to look at our first design,” Young said. “Now they need some time to look at our second design, and then they'll evaluate ‘Is this a reasonable request’ that we're having, and as should it be reasonable, then they will grant that borrowing authority.”
Young said they hope to break ground by this time next year. The plant could be operating in 2027.
He says the vote was not unanimous, board member Karma Johnson voted “no” on two items, but the motions still carried.
For more on the hybrid plant, click here.
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