HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of Reno County Commissioners will decide the direction the sewer project for the Yoder and HABIT sewer districts will go at their meeting on Wednesday.
According to agenda documents, Reno County was notified in 2018 of permit compliance issues for both the Yoder and HABIT sewer districts. Schwab Eaton out of Manhattan was hired to work on the two projects that same year.
Preliminary plans were developed by the end of 2019 for both districts independently and a possible joint project. During this time, the previous public works director and county administrator both retired.
Don and Randy jumped into discussions with Schwab Eaton as soon as they both were in their new positions in the first quarter of 2020. The combination of the two projects into one is what staff recommends, but to understand the full impact of the decision it is important to understand a couple of nuisances between the districts’ needs.
Yoder and HABIT systems are different and have different needs with this project, but both are undersized, and Yoder is out of compliance with KDHE. The Yoder sewer district’s main problem is the capacity of their lagoons (southwest of K96 and Yoder Road) are undersized for their current needs. The internal collection system for Yoder is in adequate condition. Yoder’s lagoons are approximately 1 mile from the lagoons serving HABIT.
The HABIT sewer district has a different problem with their system. HABIT’s biggest problem when the project began was their collection system of 70+ years will not last much longer. Examples of problems are clay pipes currently in place are deteriorating and need to be replaced with PVC.
Last spring, the county was ready to move forward with recommendations to the county commission for financing of the project and plan approvals. The plan was to have the two districts combine, with residents of the respective districts paying their fair share of the total project. The total project cost, based on 2019 estimates was $2.99 million, for a total of 101 estimated customers.
The county had received preliminary loan financing through KDHE that had around 30% forgivable amounts that lowered the overall cost to residents, with the delay it is unknown how much, if any, forgivable amounts will be awarded to the district.
The delay happened due to new information provided to the county.
As staff was working with the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center to discuss holding a town hall (public hearing) on their premises to inform the residents of the two districts about the proposed plan, the training center informed county staff that that they have preliminary plans to increase their size of facilities and number of students. The increase will understandably increase the need of their sewer usage.
At that time, staff contacted Schwab Eaton and learned with the training center’s expansion, the project will need more lagoon space that requires the county to purchase land adjacent to the current lagoons.
The idea was then presented to the commission about purchasing land and the commission asked that county staff look into partnering with the City of Hutchinson and connect their sewer lines to the Yoder and HABIT districts.
The city is open to discussions of taking the wastewater from these two districts into their treatment plant.
For consideration, the county would still be required to follow through with the HABIT project that replaces their clay lines. Other unknowns to work with the city is what the BOD's are for all of the district users for each district and how that will impact the treatment center and whether additional costs will be added by the city for treatment.
For comparison purposes, the joint system lagoon option will cost the districts an estimated $6,133,100 and the option to connect to the City of Hutchinson's system will cost an estimated $4,898,930. Both numbers include the land purchase that has already taken place for $350,000. This is a difference of $1,234,170.
Regardless of the option chosen, Reno County will be maintaining the sewer districts entire system for the duration of the districts life.
In talking with Ranson Financial, who the county has a contract with for assistance with loan administration, that company has stated to county staff that for the KDHE loan that has a forgivable amount available, the county must choose one option or the other.
If the county decides to change options, the county would then have to reapply and go through the process in a following loan cycle. The loan application is due by October 15, 2023.
The Board of County Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.