Scott County to consider water district plan

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County moves closer to a possible countywide water district with a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the county courthouse in Benton to discuss details of such a district and decide whether to proceed with its creation.

At the meeting, John Chittenden of Waters Engineering Inc. will talk about the necessary construction and funding for the project.

Following the discussion, county commissioners will call for a vote by everyone present and from that evaluate whether they should proceed with the steps to get the project presented as a ballot question in early 2005.

"I think there will be a big turnout," said Jim Schwaninger, executive director of economic development in Scott County. Schwaninger said as of Tuesday he was receiving calls from people wanting to know more about the meeting.

On Aug. 24, about 50 residents showed up to hear the commissioners and Chittenden discuss the costs of such a district, how it would be funded and the benefits.

Schwaninger said forming a countywide water district is an important issue for many because it deals with health issues.

According to Chittenden, about 3,700 residents in Scott County get water from wells, which run a risk of contamination by farm chemicals or septic tanks.

The intent of a water district is to provide safer water to everyone in the county.

That would mean a new water treatment facility and connections with existing city systems to provide a backup for all county water sources, while also relieving Kelly and Scott County Central schools from managing their own water supplies.

The estimated price of a water district is $19 million.

The USDA would offer a grant paying 20 percent of the project costs. The balance would be covered by a 33-year loan at 4 percent interest to be paid off through bonds.

Only those residents who choose to join the water district would be paying for the bonds. The more people join the district, the lower the monthly payments.

At the August meeting, Chittenden estimated that if 80 percent of the 4,000 potential customers joined the district, the monthly water bill would be $40.50 for 5,000 gallons of water, which he said is the amount of water the average family uses per month.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182