®®There were no objections made at a hearing held Wednesday, August 15 to the proposed plan for upgrading and expanding the Village of Baldwin's wastewater treatment plant, according to Village Administrator Cindy Deringer. Deringer said the plan that is favored by the Village Board, designated as alternative number two, would be constructed to the south of the current plant on 90 acres of land that the Village purchased several years ago.
The expansion will be south of the current plan, doubling its current size and will occupy four to five acres, Deringer said. According to the "Recommendations" section of the "Facilities Plan-Public Hearing" handout that was available for review at the public hearing, alternative two "would provide added capacity for growth, improved nitrogen treatment, and enhanced disinfection prior to discharging to Baldwin Creek at the current location. The denitrification process and enhanced disinfection included in Alternative #2 would provide added surface water and groundwater protection as compared to the current plant discharge. Expansion of the oxidation ditch type, extended aeration activated sludge process would be an efficient and reliable process for producing a high quality effluent." The handout was prepared by SEH Engineers, the engineering firm retained by the village to design the WWTP upgrade. The cost of alternative two is estimated at $5,445,600, with annual operation and maintenance costs estimated at $520,300. The costs will be paid for by user charges. The method of financing the proposed upgrade, as well as availability of grant funds and collection of impact fees "will have a significant impact on the user charges." The handout also noted that Wisconsin Department of Development may provide grants of up to $750,000 for public facilities if a project can "be shown to benefit low and moderate income families, must demonstrate an urgent need (imminent threat to health safety or general welfare), or must lead to community economic development (business and job creation)." However, Administrator Deringer noted "it is unlikely the Village will be eligible for any grants. Financing is likely to be through theClean Water Fund, rate three percent (an estimate at this time), with 20 year payback period (which is the expected life of a mechanical plant." Deringer also noted that the Village Board passed a motion to approve the schedule and plan presented by SEH in the handout. After the public hearing of last week, the schedule calls for a six month plan and design phase, with submission of construction plans and specs to the DNR by June 2008 and then approval of those plans by August 2008. Following plan approval, construction bids will be sought and then awarded by December 2008 with completion of the project anticipated by June 2009. Deringer said copies of the facilities plan were sent to several agencies for review.
They include in addition to the DNR, St. Croix County Planning Department, St. Croix County Land Conservation Office, Trout Unlimited; West Central Regional Planning and Kinnickinnic Land Trust. She said that the county has requested a couple of weeks to respond in writing to the plan.