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WEIRTON -- City officials are hoping a new, proposed funding package will allow for a long-planned expansion of Weirton's water treatment plant to move forward.
Members of the city's Finance Committee, Wednesday, recommended two resolutions connected with funding for the project, which will double the treatment capacity of the water plant from its current 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day.
The first resolution is a supplemental action pertaining to the terms of Water Revenue Bonds, ratifying a loan agreement related to those bonds, to assist in the funding of the project.
Such action would increase the amount of money able to be borrowed, and extend the length of time to pay it back, officials explained. Such action would not result in any additional increases in water rates as a result of this project.
"We're basically raising that borrow amount so we don't have to raise the rates," explained Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh.
Jasen Havens, assistant water director, explained the third attempt at bidding out the project came in at more than $2.5 million the amount budgeted by the Weirton Area Water Board, pushing for the board to seek additional funds through an overrun grant from the West Virginia Infrastructure Jobs and Development Council, which previously provided a $14.7 million loan and other grant funding.
The project also has received more than $22 million from Congressionally Directed Spending.
The second resolution would authorize the contribution of an additional $200,000 from the city's general fund toward the project.
"It's the city's skin," City Manager Mike Adams said.
The Weirton Area Water Board would contribute an additional $100,000, it was noted.
According to Havens, if these proposals are approved, the Water Board can move forward with awarding the bid by the end of this month and, shortly after, break ground on the project.
During the Water Board's April meeting, officials announced only one company had submitted a bid on the project, although a second had inquired about it and expressed interest.
Initial estimates for the project had a cost of close to $27 million; however, more recent calculations have gone as high as $42 million.