A special election has been set for next week at which Willard residents again will be asked to approve a $3.5 million sewer project they rejected by a nearly 2-1 margin in June.
City officials and proponents say they have secured more loans to reduce the installation costs, which they hope will persuade a majority of residents to vote in favor of the system."If it doesn't pass this time, then this is it," Mayor Rodney Mund said.
City officials have scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4. The special election is scheduled on the following two days, with voting hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.
The sewer system would replace the septic-tank system now in use. Proponents of the plan said the septic tanks are inefficient and unsanitary.
At a special election in June, Willard residents voted overwhelmingly against the sewer system. City officials say they thought the cost of the project scared the voters.
The original plan would have required each homeowner to pay a $1,000 installation fee, as well as covering the cost of running the connecting pipe from the home to the property line. The proposal also included a monthly service charge of $26.01 per household.
But new sources of funding would cut the installation fee to $500, officials say. Proponents of the project secured a $1.1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, and also obtained two interest-free loans from the state.
In addition, the Farmers Home Administration has agreed to help homeowners cover the connection costs by issuing $5,000 grants to qualifying applicants. And the city has secured a grant of more than $100,000 through the Bear River Association of Governments, which would help cover connection costs for those who qualify for assistance.