Holts Summit voters to decide $7 million bond proposal

On April 5 Holts Summit voters will vote on a proposed $7 million sewer bond issue to improve the city's sewerage system.

Holts Summit City Administrator Brian Crane said the $7 million ballot proposal will build a new wastewater treatment plant capable of handling 600,000 gallons of wastewater a day.

It also would add sewer service to five new areas and eliminate the Choctaw Lagoon now in use. The plan also would permit automation of numerous lift stations.

Crane said the current sewerage system is costly to operate and wouild not be able to meet new state requirements.

Crane said the Jefferson City Sewer Treatment Plant currently is used to process some of Holts Sumit sewage under an agreement between Jefferson City and Holts Summit. The remaining sewage is processed at the current Holts Summit Sewage treatment plant, which is old and needs to be replaced, Crane said.

Crane said it is not cost effective to pipe all sewage to the Jefferson City treatment plant because costs would be higher than building Holts Summit's own new treatment plant.

Holts Summit has added some lift stations to its sewerage system. Crane said the extra expense of the lift stations and higher Jefferson City sewage treatment fees account for the recent Holts Summit sewer user fee increases.

It was estimated the cost of the $7 million entire project will be financed by future revenue collected through fees paid by residential and commercial customers.

The proposal has attracted no organized opposition.

Alderman Jason P. Michael said the proposal also will require residences with septic systems in the city to disconnect from them and tie into the city's sewerage system.

Michael said he and most other people realize the sewer improvements are badly needed. He said residents have no choice because of state and federal regulations require the city to improve the system.