Richfield City Council Approves Bond Sales to Make Water System Improvements

For about 50 years, Richfield's water treatment facility has provided city residents with clean, drinkable water.

However, the system is getting old and needs repairs in order to continue to serve the community, according to , Richfield city manager.

As such, council members approved a resolution awarding the sale of approximately $1.4 million in general obligation water revenue bonds to help fund the improvements Tuesday night.

Devich said most of the improvements will be made to the water tower and the waste-water clarifier.

"The water plant was built in the early 60s and it's provided us with great services over the years," Devich said, "But, like every other capital asset that we have, it's getting old and people in this community value our water and we're going to continue to produce the best water we possibly can."

In addition to the $1.4 million in bonds approved Tuesday, improvements will also be funded with another $1 million internal loan that was approved by the council Nov. 23, 2010. The loan carries a 10-year term at an interest rate of 2 percent.

The proposed improvements are in addition to more than $6 million worth of water revenue bonds that have financed other capital improvements to water and sewer operations in the city throughout the last few years.

As the city works to make these improvements, Richfield Patch will update readers on its progress.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 10 at Richfield City Hall.