Coffey County explores securing water rights and funding design for 3 MGD treatment plant

Coffey County commissioners heard a multi-hour briefing June 1 about regional water supplies and development options tied to Wholesale Water District No. 12, including the possibility of building a 3 million‑gallon‑per‑day (MGD) treatment train and new distribution to serve industrial growth.

Midwest Engineering representatives — Ben and Tom, with Carl introducing the session — told the commission the county currently receives about 44% of the water allocated out of Wholesale Water District No. 12 and that demand projections and contract limits mean the county lacks headroom for significant new industrial or residential growth without new supply or infrastructure. Ben said the firm prepared two example approaches: a "bare‑minimum" plant (design and production capacity to meet contracted users) with an older estimate near $25 million, and a full, shovel‑ready 3 MGD buildout that older documents estimated near $60 million. He recommended phasing and noted design and permitting would take one to two years.

Commissioners and engineering staff discussed financing and timing at length. Midwest staff described a design fee range (the packet included a prior design figure of roughly $4.77 million for a full 3 MGD design) and offered an illustrative debt‑service estimate of roughly $1.5 million annually for a single 3 MGD build (ballpark; actual terms depend on financing and scope). The engineers said federal or multi‑county grant programs could supply a large share of capital in some cases, and that Wholesale Water District No. 12 is unlikely to act without a written indication of Coffey County's willingness to fund the next steps (design or an annual commitment).

Commissioners asked about storage, redundancy and distribution options, potential grant partners (including a federal economic development disaster-relief program with an 80% federal cost share for qualifying regional projects), and statutory constraints on adding or joining wholesale members. Midwest said the planning should be modular to allow staged expansion and that a commitment letter from the county would enable Wholesale 12 to preserve or pursue additional water allocations pending design progress.

Next steps agreed by the board and staff: Midwest Engineering will refine an up‑to‑date cost estimate for a 3 MGD plant and supporting storage and pipeline to a targeted industrial site (including an option sized to reach the county airport), county staff will work with counsel on a draft letter of support/commitment for Wholesale Water District No. 12, and commissioners signaled support for moving toward a defined scope to take to Wholesale 12 and potential funders.

Quotation (attributed): Ben (Midwest Engineering) told commissioners, "Coffee County receives about 44% of the water coming out of wholesale," and that scaling to a 3 MGD plant would create roughly 30% capacity for growth once built. The commission did not take a binding funding vote; staff was asked to produce a draft letter and clearer dollar figures for the board to consider at a subsequent meeting.

The county will consider formal options next week and is expected to review a draft commitment letter and an updated engineering cost estimate before any contract or funding decision.