GOVERNMENT: SCOTT CITY TO DECIDE WATER BOND ISSUE

Scott City residents will vote Tuesday on whether the city should issue $2.24 million in bonds to help pay for a new water treatment plant and replace inadequate waterlines.

Erika Glock, Scott City administrator, said that without the bond revenue, the city will be unable to make needed improvements to its water system.

The city's water system has numerous problems, including undersized water mains, many of which are old and fragile, an inadequate backup water supply source and water wells that are unable to handle times of peak water demand.

Without the improvements, city officials say, residents could be subjected to more boil water orders, low water pressure, water shut-offs during repairs, dirty water or no water at all.

Glock said the city is unsure which water mains will be repaired first if the bond issue is approved.

"We are in the process of doing a water study right now. Once we get those results, we'll know what areas we need to target," she said.

Property tax rates for city residents will not increase because of the bond issue, according to city information.

A flyer distributed by the city reads, "The City Council has made a commitment to structure the new bond debt service so that the same property tax amount imposed in 1999 will be sufficient to retire the debt of both bonds."

In 1999, Scott City property owners paid a tax rate equal to $.65 per $100 of assessed valuation to retire the city's bond debt.

Glock said officials intend to replace the city's existing general obligation bond, which has another two years, with the new bond.

"This is going to be dovetailed on, meaning we'll get out money now, but we won't begin paying for it until the end of the other one," Glock said.

City officials also said they will not use the entire bond if it is not needed for the proposed improvements.

Glock said the city is unsure what it will do if voters do not approve the bond.

"We haven't figured that out yet," Glock said. "The only thing we can do is try again in the spring. This is a necessary step for the city and without this, all we can do is continue to apply for grants and appeal to the public."