City Holding Public Hearing On Sewer Rate Increase

The city of Bourbon will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Dec. 21 on a sewer rate increase.

How much the increase would be is unknown at press time, but it could be a significant change to the base rate.

The hearing will get underway at 6:30 p.m. The regular monthly meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Bourbon’s city council recently raised the sewer rate and another increase is necessary to pay for the financing of a new UV disinfectant system at the wastewater treatment plant.

The city will use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help pay the project. Bourbon also has applied for a portion of Crawford County’s $4.6 million ARPA money.

An application was submitted to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for review.

Installing a UV disinfection system is necessary under Missouri Department of Natural Resources guidelines.

The city has been receiving extensions.

Earlier in 2021, Bourbon’s council chose Bartlett & West to design-build the disinfectant system.

The city received a grant from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for the construction.

The grant includes design, permitting, bidding, construction administration and part-time construction observation.

UV disinfection has been implemented in many wastewater treatment plants.

UV disinfection neutralizes microorganisms as they pass by ultraviolet lamps.

It adds nothing to the water but UV light and thus has no impact on the chemical composition of the water.

Many municipalities have switched from using chemical-based disinfection, like chlorine.

The city began the process of switching to UV disinfection under the late Danny Skaggs.