Sayreville OKs
extra $1 million
for new plant
SAYREVILLE — Costs for the construction of the new water treatment plant have gone up yet again.
Last week, the borough approved an additional appropriation of $1 million for the construction of a new water plant, according to Borough Treasurer Wayne Kronowski.
Kronowski said the borough anticipated that the cost of the plant would be around $19.5 million, but bids received in September came back more than $20 million.
The additional $1 million, according to Kronowski, will help pay for the cost of construction and engineering.
Last week, the Borough Council approved a $19.5 million bid from Remsco Construction, Lakewood.
The total cost of the construction of the Bordentown Avenue facility is estimated at $20.5 million.
The plant, according to officials, is needed to place the borough in good standing with the Safe Water Drinking Act.
Currently, the borough is not in compliance with the act.
If the construction had not been approved, the borough may have faced fines of several thousand dollars a day from the state.
Most of the cost to replace the existing 40-year-old plant will be paid with a low-interest loan from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
The remainder of the funding will come from connection fees for water lines, Kronowski said.
In June 1999, the borough anticipated that the cost of the plant would be $18,735,000.
That figure was later amended due to several factors, such as engineering allotments, construction administration and a rising cost of borrowing.
Residents can expect a 6 percent increase in water and sewer rates come next year.
The borough voted for that increase last week.
The rates will vary from $17.50 per 1,000 cubic feet of water consumed per quarter to $31.80 for more than 50,000 cubic feet of water consumed per quarter.
Senior citizens will receive a 5 percent discount on their bills.
The new rates will take effect in January.