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Page 1 of 6 Contact Us Classifieds Sign up for Email & Text Alerts Subscribe E-Trib Login Digital Subscriptions $4.95/mo. Home News Sports Opinion You Blogs Features Entertainment Obituaries Report Home Members Thanks for visiting IdahoPress.com. You're entitled to view 5 free articles every 30 days. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase 4 Remaining an affordable subscription. Nampa to seek loan for wastewater improvements Print Font Size: Story Comments Posted: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 12:01 am | Updated: 12:15 am, Tue Oct 30, 2012. 0 comments Posted on October 30, 2012 NAMPA — The City by Torrie Cope Council unanimously approved the next step in a possible funding solution for the first phase of improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment facility during a special meeting Monday afternoon. Related Audio Clips Now a judge will determine if the city can pursue an approximately $17 million loan to Account Contact Us Get Social with us Customer Service Weather: Clear 55° http://www.idahopress.com/members/nampa-to-seek-loan-for-wastewater-improvements/... 10/30/2012 Page 2 of 6 help fund the first phase of the federally- Nampa special city council meeting Oct. mandated improvements. 29 The city is seeking a state revolving funds (SRF) loan from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ). If the city is approved for the loan, it would finance approximately $17 million of the estimated $28 million-first phase of the project. The Council passed a resolution Monday that authorized the city to pursue the funding. The resolution also authorized the filing of a petition for judicial confirmation. The city attorney will file the petition and a judge will determine if the city has the authority to enter into a SRF loan agreement with IDEQ. If a judge grants approval, the city has until Jan. 1, 2013 to submit an application to IDEQ. It is possible that the IDEQ will not 5,933 people like approve the city for the loan and the city will have to determine another route for funding. Nampa must improve its wastewater treatment facility to meet Environmental Protection Agency regulations, particularly with new limits on phosphorus. The Council has discussed funding methods at past meetings for the project including using cash or pursuing a bond. If the city were to use cash it would save money on interest, but it would increase wastewater rates for Nampa’s residents and businesses by about 70 percent. Council We're members expressed concern at the last council meeting about what that increase would do to residents and to businesses’ bottom lines. The SRF loan will save the city about $7.5 million in interest compared to a bond. Wastewater rates will still be increased about 30 percent for customers with the loan option to cover the remaining $11 million cost of the improvements. There was little discussion on the resolution at the special meeting that lasted about 10 minutes. Council member Bob Henry said that while he was voting in favor of the resolution, he regretted that the Council would not be able to hear from the community about its preferences due to the time constraints of the loan process — three people spoke in favor of the loan and none spoke in opposition during a public hearing on the issue Oct. 15. Account Contact Us Get Social with us Customer Service Weather: Clear 55° http://www.idahopress.com/members/nampa-to-seek-loan-for-wastewater-improvements/... 10/30/2012 Page 3 of 6 Henry also wondered if it would be better to pay cash for this first phase of the improvements since the city will have more large costs coming up on the project that may require another bond. “It’s not the ideal situation but considering the time restraints I’m going to support the motion,” he said. The city received a letter Aug. 28 from IDEQ about the loan opportunity. The timing of the letter made it impossible for the city to put the issue in front of voters for the November 2012 election, which is why it must now seek judicial approval. Mayor Tom Dale was unable to attend due to a previous engagement, so Council President Martin Thorne led the meeting Monday. FRONT PAGES © 2012 Idaho Press-Tribune. All rights reserved. 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More about Nampa City Council ■ ARTICLE : Urban renewal will buy land from Nampa ■ ARTICLE : Civic agenda ■ ARTICLE : City: Create downtown Nampa parking at vacant ice rink lot ■ ARTICLE : Nampa buys downtown property for $385,000 ■ ARTICLE : Nampa City Council meets to sign library land contracts Account Contact Us Get Social with us Customer Service Weather: Clear 55° http://www.idahopress.com/members/nampa-to-seek-loan-for-wastewater-improvements/... 10/30/2012 Page 4 of 6 Discuss Print Tweets Posted in Members , Local on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 12:01 am. Updated: 12:15 am. | Tags: Wastewater Improvements , Nampa City Council , Department Of Environmental Quality , Loan , Wastewater Treatm ent Faci In misuse of funds trial, John money from Nampa contract was his income. bit.ly/XUaArm IdahoPress.com invites you to take part in the community conversation. But those who don't play nice may be uninvited. 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