NORTH WEBSTER – The Lakeland Regional Sewer District has been approved for a $20 million loan and an $8 million grant, the board announced Monday. Board President Jim Haney announced the approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a brief special meeting. Board members spent several months in meetings with local and state USDA offices seeking funding above the $23.6 million that was originally approved after construction bids came in $4 to $5 million higher than estimated. The $8 million in grant money is funding that won’t have to be repaid through customer billing. The board requested only $5 million in grant money, Haney noted. The $20.089 million will be disbursed in a series of three loans, at $9.5, 8.5 and about $2 million. The interest rate will be a maximum of 4 percent, though it would be 3.5 percent if the loan were closed on today, Haney observed. Board members voted to sign a letter of intent on the loan conditions Monday, which they received in April but which wasn’t official until the loan announcement Wednesday. They also amended the district bond ordinance with updated language. Also Monday, the board introduced the monthly rate ordinance for customers, which for a single-family residence would include a $66.15 service charge plus a $3.80 administrative fee. The ordinance also sets charges for other types of customers, such as hotels and restaurants, as well as surcharges for exceeding limits on solids and certain chemicals. The board will vote on the rate ordinance after a public hearing June 4 at 6 p.m. in the North Webster Community Center.
