Project in Marine City could begin this fall
By Barb Pert Templeton
A $26 million dollar plan to update the water system in Marine City took another step forward last week when a report from the state found implementing the project poses no significant impact to the environment.
Marine City Manager Scott Adkins said the report is part of a regulatory requirement and one of many steps the city has to go through before starting a major overall to their water distribution and treatment system.
“No glaring issues that require additional work were identified in the review and it’s what we hope for with these projects,” Adkins stated during a recent phone interview.
The 11-page report from the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), identified the project more formerly as the Marine City, St. Clair County Water Distribution and Treatment System Improvements Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Project Number 7852-01. It further stated:
“The purpose of this notice is to seek public input and comment on a preliminary decision by the EGLE that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required to implement recommendations discussed in the attached Environmental Assessment.”
Although it is a “preliminary” report and a 30-day grace period is in place to allow the public to respond, Adkins said it’s highly doubtful that an alternate opinion or discovery of something different will occur.
Marine City will be launching a $26 million dollar project, possibly beginning work this year, for water distribution and treatment system improvements.
The state report offered a section with some background information on the project including data from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments noting Marine City’s population was 4,079 in 2020 and is expected to remain relatively stable, with a projected population of 4,117 in 2040. It also noted that the project includes the water treatment plant (WTP), intake, and storage tower improvements, water main looping and replacement, and lead service line replacement (LSLR).
The state described funding for the project as follows: Marine City is applying for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan from the EGLE to finance improvements to the drinking water treatment and distribution systems. The estimated total project cost is $26,000,000. Marine City anticipates funding/financing the project with a combination of low interest loan, including a portion of principal forgiveness, and a grant.
The report also stated that as an overburdened community, as determined by EGLE, Marine City qualified to receive an American Rescue Plan grant not to exceed 50 percent ($11,394,760) of the total water main looping and replacement and water treatment plant improvement costs. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) loan ($1,670,760) and principal forgiveness ($1,605,240) is available for the LSLR work. The DWSRF loan would finance the remainder of the project cost, up to $11,329,240.
“The funding from the State of Michigan Drinking Water Fund will be at a lower interest rate and there’s a longer time (period) for paying it back,” Adkins said.
He also noted that the city is thankful for the scoring they received on their application for funding to the state.
“There were hundreds applying and only a handful got money in return,” Adkins said. “We are in the high end too, (as to dollar amount approved) and if not for this we would have had to put this on the backs our citizens.”
Repayment of the project financing will be from an increase in user rates. The state report notes that the anticipated increase from the current average user rate of $67.16 per month will be to an estimated rate of $78 per month, or an increase of $10.84 per month. Adkin said those are simply estimates at this point as bids for the project could come in under or over initially anticipated costs.
Overall, once there has been formal approval of the project. Adkins said they could be hosting a bond issue as early as August and then construction could begin his fall. Any delays could also push the start to the spring of 2025.
Marine City Manager Scott Adkins.
Right now, Adkins said the city has already sought bonds for the project, hired a finance specialist and are busy addressing lots of federal rules and meeting those deadlines before the official project begins.
He said the city offices has been fielding some calls from residences asking why they’ve seen workers putting up little yellow flags or digging near their properties.
“We’ve got surveyors and engineers already out there working on preliminary things, like identifying utility locations, but it’s mostly in the rights-of-way,” Adkins said.
Noting that the water system in the city is about 100 years old, Adkins said that includes the water plant and the infrastructure.
The improvement plan actually started in 2022 and the city has been going through all the paperwork and studies that have to be in place before starting the project.
“It’s amazing to even be able to do something as significant as this because there’s never been anything done here on this scale,” Adkins said. “And this will address the lead and copper issues in the system too.”
To view the state report in its entirety, visit the city website at cityofmarinecity.org or visit the local library to read a hard-copy of the documents.
