UTILITIES and COMMUNITY FACILITIES Utilities and Community Facilities Provide the Foundation That Communities Are Built Upon
UTILITIES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES Utilities and community facilities provide the foundation that communities are built upon. Utilities may include sanitary sewer, water, and storm sewer systems, as well as electrical, natural gas, and telecommunication systems and solid waste disposal. Community facilities vary by community but tend to include schools, libraries, community recreation centers, swimming pools, ice arenas, the airport and various health and safety providers. Utilities and community facilities can be used to guide development and encourage growth, as well as establish a community identity. The largest portion of a community’s budget includes the construction maintenance, and operation of the utilities and community facilities along with the roadway and transportation system. This section contains goals, policies, and recommendations to guide the maintenance and development of utilities and community facilities in the City of Austin. Existing Conditions Austin provides multiple utilities and community facilities including sanitary sewer, storm sewer, solid waste transfer facility, police, fire, the library, ice arenas, swimming pool, and airport. There are a number of private utilities and community facilities, including water, electric, natural gas, telecommunications, day care centers, healthcare and child care. This section includes an inventory of existing utilities, community facilities and services. It also identifies the need for community facilities and utility improvements or new facilities over the next 20 years. Sanitary Sewer and Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Austin owns and maintains both the domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants. There is a cooperative agreement with Hormel for the maintenance of industrial plant. An updated facility plan will be created once negotiations with the MPCA for the new discharge permit have taken place in the fall of 2016.
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