Marseilles approves measures to develop sewer, water system around Interstate 80

The Marseilles City Council approved two bond ordinances that give the city the ability to start developing a sewer and water system along Interstate 80.

City Engineer Mike Etscheid said the sewer revenue bond and a water revenue bond allows the city to refinance existing EPA loans, which gives them $2.5 million to run the sewer along I-80, along with letting the city fix some issues by Union and Bluff streets.

“We’re pushing our increases out to the future, so that’ll be in 2031 or 2032,” Etscheid said.

Mayor Jim Hollenbeck said this increase in later years shouldn’t be of concern to anyone right now.

“The great thing about this is [that] pushing the higher payment to 2031 means we’ll already have development out there by then,” Hollenbeck said. “We’ll have our income and EAV increase. We certainly shouldn’t have any trouble making these payments in 11 years.”

The council also approved plans for the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 13, although Hollenbeck said that, similar to its Christmas parade, the format largely will depend on the county’s COVID-19 outlook.

Another resolution was approved regarding the realignment of Commercial Street, which was approved during a prior meeting. Hollenbeck said it was a resolution that needed to be passed because much of the cost is covered by state or federal funding.