million dollar project and will likely be online in late 2027 or 2028. We are also investing in a new Solar Array that will provide the energy to power both our water and wastewater processes. We’re looking forward to that conversion that in the long term, should save a significant amount of tax dollars.” When it comes to housing, high construction costs, interest rates, and material shortages have slowed new builds, but the city is exploring incentives such as property tax rebates to encourage development. “Once we get some stability in those areas, I think we’re actually going to see some movement,” stresses Inman.“We have some platted subdivisions that still EPA guidelines are going to become more stringent in some specific areas that we treat and deal with here.” The city is also moving away from reliance on Spring Lake, a century old surface water source, shifting to underground aquifers.The construction of a reverse osmosis facility is planned, with the intention of providing a reliable water source for decades to come. “We’ll be tapping into the Petersburg water aquifer, that’s literally billions and billions of gallons of water that are below the surface in this part of the United States,” he says. “The proposed water treatment plant is a nearly $35 92 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10
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