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Having just been presented a positive financial analysis in the form of the 2022 audit— members of the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission last week approved applying for a Rural Water Fund loan to advance the next phase of a five-year series of system improvements.

The commission is approaching phase four and anticipates this next loan in the neighborhood of $1 million.  The majority of this is the main lift station— odor control, pumps and all.

Operations managers for Veolia, a private companyon contract to run the commission assets, said the actual construction won’t start until 2024 but bid packages could go out this year.

The financial audit from Abdo, as explained by Tyler See, detailed how the oldest debt the group is responsible for, from 2004, drops off considerably as of next year.

Long term debt went from $5.1 million in 2021 to the audit-reported debt of $4.8 million.

The Chisago Lakes joint sewage treatment commission (CLJSTC) is made up of the cities of Wyoming, Stacy, Chisago City, Lindstrom, Center City and an area called the South Center Sanitary District/county which is represented by Commissioner Marlys Dunne. Revenue is also generated in the form of accepting for a fee holding tank wastewater.  The cities are charged per gallon of wastewater treated and a formula to pay off debt service and other categories.

Last week the two Wyoming members and Bob Gustafson from Chisago City were absent, but Jeremy Dresel, for Chisago City, took the chair seat and navigated the agenda.

There was some discussion about getting subcommittee assignments finalized, but Stacy and Lindstrom are in transition as far as office-holders go, and reps for both those cities asked for some extra time before adopting committees. For now, last year’s committee roster will be retained.

There was an update on a Highway 8 motor vehicle accident involving a commission-owned truck. The insurance companies are working out details and plant manager Zach Meyer said nobody was injured.

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