The Mt. Carmel City Council has given the go ahead to taking the next step in building a new water treatment next to the current facility on South Mulberry Street. In an unanimous vote, commissioners voted to approve the next step in the project that estimates place at between $7.3 million and $8.3 million. Officials are hoping to have $1.6 million of the project covered by government loan forgiveness.

Details of the project weren’t fully released last night, but Water Commissioner Justin Dulgar said base rate increases for customers could range from $3 to $7 with increases also implemented on a tiered system based on usage. The facility will be 16,000 to 17,000 square feet and take 18 to 24 months to build. It’s hoped all of the necessary designs and permitting allows for construction to start in July or August of 2021 and take 18 to 24 months to complete. The city has been under the gun by the I-EPA to upgrade the water plant that was built in 1937. A final council vote on whether to proceed with the project will take place once all of the engineering specs and final costs are available.

Despite asking for public input on the project before the decision was made and seeking public participation in yesterday’s meeting, no members of the public attended the 5pm meeting at City Hall.