Council to Weigh Funding for Utility Upgrades


Thursday, May 02 2013
Council will meet at 12:15 today to consider a budget amendment that sets the stage for several upgrades to the city's utilities.
The biggest piece of the package is a state loan to help pay for construction of the new wastewater treatment plant. The Department of Environmental Conservation is willing to lend Unalaska up to $8.6 million for the project. Today, council will review construction bids, and decide how much money the city should borrow.
The amendment would also add a $55,000 buffer to the fund for fixing the water department's CT tank. The budget for that project is currently set at about $100,000. The extra allotment would come from the water enterprise operating fund. It's meant to cover inspections, and any additional work that the inspector recommends.
The package would also move $2 million in pre-committed general fund money into an electric fund account, so city staff can order a fourth engine for the powerhouse.