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Guest column. Say 'Yes' on Sept. 13 for improved infrastructure in the community

As our community begins to grow at an accelerated pace, the need to improve our infrastructure continues to grow.

The Williams City Council has made great strides in preparing for growth and has developed a realistic plan to have the required infrastructure complete when the new demand comes online. The city replaced the sewer distribution system, successfully drilled wells to help secure our water supply, and completed phase one of our water plant rehabilitation. Now we are asking the community to approve funding for the next two infrastructure projects.

Our top priority is a new wastewater treatment plant. Unlike the water plant that could be rehabilitated, a new wastewater plant needs to be constructed. The plant is estimated to cost between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000.

We must complete Phase II of the water treatment plant rehabilitation. Phase I added a new aeration basin, new chemical feed building, and new sedimentation basin, for a total cost of $1,632,000. Phase II will increase the plant capacity from 1 million gallons per day to 1.5 million gallons per day at an estimated cost of $ 1,800,000.

The city will use revenues from the water and wastewater system, revenue from the electric system, and city excise and sales taxes to pay back these bonds. Property taxes will not be used to service this debt. The city will use funds from the water and wastewater system, then if additional funds are needed, funds from our electric system will be utilized. On July 1, 2005 the city made the last large payment on an outstanding Municipal Development Authority Bond Issue freeing up additional debt service capacity allowing us to issue these much needed bonds.

Why is the city asking for voter approval? Obtaining voter approval accomplishes two things. First, it confirms that the community supports these needed and progressive projects. Secondly, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona will discount the interest rate by 1 percent to 1.5 percent charged ‹ and reduce the closing costs significantly, thus saving a significant amount of money over the entire bond issue.

How long will we pay on these bonds? The bonds will be issued for 30 years. We estimate the interest rate to be around 4 percent. As a general rule of thumb, the infrastructure improvement made should last at least as long as the debt incurred to finance it. The city anticipates the plant will last a minimum of 50 years, and will be designed so additional capacity can be added in sections as required.

Arizona Revised Statutes now permit governmental agencies to take advantage of Alternative Project Delivery Methods for public works projects. Methods like Construction Manager-at-Risk, and Design-Build give the city more flexibility in contracting and project delivery versus the traditional Design-Bid-Build method. Council will use one of these methods to construct the wastewater treatment plant. These methods should mitigate the types of problems encountered with Phase I of the water plant.

Our City Council is always looking forward, planning for our progress as a community. Future projects include a pipe line from the Dogtown well field, water storage tanks, replacing our existing water distribution system, and street improvements. These projects will be completed as funding becomes available in the future and will result in a higher standard of living for the citizens of Williams.

Voice your support by voting 'Yes.' Registered voters living within the city of Williams limits can vote at city hall, 113 S. First St. through Sept. 9. A ballot can be mailed to registered voters by calling the county recorder's office at (928) 779-6872. Vote in person on Sept. 13 at the Holiday Inn, 950 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. between 6 a.m.-7 p.m.


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