Geneva seeks to borrow millions for sewer, water projects

Geneva City Council members have approved a plan to seek loans for a $20 million water and sewer project and a $15 million loan for water main and lead water service line replacements.

The $20 million project is to build a new sanitary sewer line under the Fox River and a new wastewater screening building to replace the current one, Mayor Kevin Burns said during the Oct. 21 meeting.

The project is intended to address the biggest challenge in the city’s sewer collection system: About 80% of the city’s sewage passes through a single 20-inch pipe under the Fox River, according to a study presented in 2021. The 20-inch pipe connects the area west of the river to the treatment plant.

Both projects are to be funded through the Illinois Environmental Pollution Control Loan Program, which offers a low interest rate, City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said.

The current rate is 1.81% but the final rate will be determined at the loan closing, Dawkins said.

In compliance with the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, the city plans to replace all lead water service lines, officials said.

The water mains to be replaced are 80 to 100 years old. The project is estimated to take 15 years to complete.

Both loans are subject to a “backdoor referendum” where after the legal notice is published on Oct. 30, objectors have 30 days to obtain 10% of registered voters or 1,622 signatures to require the city to go to referendum, Dawkins said.

The petition period expires Nov. 29.

The bond ordinance will go before the Committee of the Whole once the IEPA approves the loan.

All nine alderpersons voted in favor of both measures.