Leland Council Concerned Over Proposed Wastewater Treatment Funding

The Leland City Council has had a number of meetings both with the public and in session in recent weeks. The concern among everyone is how the proposed new water and wastewater treatment plant will be paid for.

The cost is over $6 million to construct the facility which will replace the single lagoon treatment facility the city has currently. The city is being required to replace the aging lagoon with a new dual lagoon system which would drain into the Winnebago River just like its predecessor. The current facility is in a flood plain while the new one would not be.

U. S. Senator Chuck Grassley recently announced that the USDA would help with $5.9 million of the funding needed to construct the system. The problem city officials have with the funding is the structure of the monetary award. The USDA would give over $3.8 million to the city towards the construction of the facility, but Leland, a city of 246 people in the last census, would first have to get a loan of $2.1 million to finance the rest.

Mayor Jason Sturgil was asked if the city could manage a loan of that size.

Sturgil explained that the loan money would have to be used first on the project.

Residents in Leland would see dramatic increases in sewer and water rates in order to pay for the loan according to Sturgil.

With the unusually high utility bills, there is a genuine concern among the council and city officials, that renters, some home owners, and businesses may seek out cheaper opportunities in surrounding cities. With each residence becoming vacant comes the need to raise rates further to compensate for the losses. There are fears that the city may end up becoming unincorporated.

Winnebago County Supervisor Terry Durby attended the Saturday morning meeting at the Leland City Hall. He understands that a major project like this with a high price tag may be hard to handle, but that the county is not able to financially help out.

Sturgil was asked if the city council was in support of the new water and wastewater treatment plant.