Lewiston voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved two 30-year revenue bonds to improve the city’s water supply and sewer systems.
One bond that provides a little more than $29 million for improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant received 90.2 percent approval, while 89.5 percent of voters said ‘yes’ to $42 million for the water system.
Critical upgrades include include a complete overhaul of the water treatment system, a new water well and storage reservoir, and replacement of part of Main Street’s 110-year-old water line system. The bonds will also cover repairing and upgrading aeration basins at the wastewater treatment plant, adding a third primary clarifier, and installing a new ultraviolet disinfection system.
A property tax increase is not needed to pay for the bonds, which will be covered by last year’s 40 percent increase in water and sewer rates.
Officials say turnout was higher than usual for a May special election, with almost 22.5 percent of the city’s registered voters casting a ballot. (Lewiston Tribune)
