Millville staff pitches up-to-$10.75M bond to upgrade wastewater plant solids handling

City of Millville municipal staff presented a bond ordinance at the Oct. 2 work session to replace aging solids-handling equipment at the municipal wastewater treatment plant, citing operational risk and the need to protect the system from costly failures.

The ordinance would authorize up to $10,750,000 in general-obligation bonds or notes to finance the solids-upgrade project. The municipal administrator said the upgrade is a priority and described the existing equipment as strained; "It'll cost the city $20,000 a day in solid waste handling" if the plant fails, the administrator warned during the presentation. Commissioners and staff framed the measure as preventive spending to avoid more expensive emergency responses and environmental impacts.

The presentation emphasized continuity of operations and the goal of replacing equipment before failure. Staff asked commissioners to consider the bond at the scheduled readings and to include the project in the capital plan; no final vote was recorded during the work session. The ordinance remains on the commission agenda for formal readings and possible adoption at a later session.

The work-session record shows staff also noted the sewer department has maintained the current equipment well but called the replacement project urgent due to escalating operational risk. Commissioners did not vote on the bond at the Oct. 2 session; the ordinance follows normal second-reading procedures before a possible adoption vote.