Vienna utility board: wastewater Phase 1 nears DEP submission; grant application seeks match funding

Staff updates dominated the Vienna Utility Board meeting, with utility staff (Speaker 3) reporting the Phase 1 wastewater improvements are close to being submitted to the state for review and that funding work remains before advertising and construction.

Staff member (Speaker 3) said, "we are getting to a point where we're ready to submit that in to DEP for review." The same speaker said the team has been coordinating match funding with the CPA and is targeting advertising late this spring with construction starting in September, per the speaker's timeline.

On funding, Speaker 3 said the utility "submitted the application for funding for it" last week and that the application referenced match funding; the speaker also referenced "half $1,000,000" in connection with the match request and said the agency process and the board's meeting cycle mean the utility hopes to know more in about two months.

Speaker 2 added that roughly $500,000 of the match would come from the stormwater fund and that 'Amy' had said the utility is sending about $800,000 (the transcript did not specify what the $800,000 covers).

Projects beyond wastewater were also discussed. Speaker 3 reported most small-diameter water pipe replacements are complete and that work will move to larger mains along Grand Central, 13th Avenue and 16th Street, with planning milestones expected by late October and construction hoped to begin in March 2027. The speaker said easement documents were provided to a staff member named Russ and that final environmental information remains to be submitted for approval.

On stormwater compliance, Speaker 3 explained the utility filed a notice of intent under the MS4 permit and that while the management plan is retained locally, an annual report will be required to the agency every July 1.

The board did not take formal votes on these projects at the meeting; staff said they will return with updated information (funding decisions and bid outcomes) at future meetings.