Frankfort Mulls $54.3 Million Plan to Shift Wastewater Processing

Frankfort trustees at the Feb. 2 Village Board meeting approved a waste water treatment facility plan that calls for processing all waste water at the regional plant near Lincoln-Way East High School, and converting the north and west plants into pumping stations.

Preliminary cost estimates for plan are $54,260,000 over the next 20 years. In next steps, the Village will begin a financial assessment, further engineering reviews and the permitting process before committing to all aspects of the project. Property taxes won’t be impacted, as the Village will use 20-year bonds funded by water and sewer customers, reaching into Frankfort Square, and Brookside Glen of Tinley Park.

The village contracted with an engineering firm in the spring of 2013 to study the longterm needs of its wastewater treatment plants. The report was completed and made public in July 2014. It proposed several different options to meet changing EPA regulations, equipment conditions, site limitations, and operational efficiencies. After further engineering review and a public hearing about the report, members of the Village’s Departmental Operations and Financial Affairs committees deliberated the options at several public meetings before recommending the two plant conversion plan to the Village Board.

The west waste water plant was built in 1959 and is located on Colorado Avenue in the Connecticut Hills neighborhood. The north waste water plant was built in 1970 and is located in the Frankfort Square neighborhood near Hilda Walker School. The Village of Frankfort provides wastewater treatment for residents in the Village of Frankfort, residents in unincorporated Frankfort Square and residents in the Brookside Glen neighborhood of Tinley Park.

“The Village board, along with staff and engineers have carefully reviewed the options regarding this project,” said Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland. “We will continue to review all aspects of the project. The costs of the project will likely necessitate a utility rate increase. We should be able to keep the rate increases reasonable through our current capital accumulation program and by borrowing. As this plan extends 20 years, it is appropriate that future rate payers help pay for the project through future payments on borrowed money. The fact that the Village of Frankfort has no bonded debt and interest rates are at a competitive rate, makes borrowing a viable funding option for this effort.”

The entire Facility Plan is available under “Hot Topics” at the village website, www.villageoffrankfort.com.