By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorWarrenton voters will be asked to approve a $15,500,000 bond issue on the April ballot to fund wastewater treatment and collection system improvements.Officials say the improvements are necessary to continue to transport effluent to the treatment plant without overflowing manholes. The present interceptor lines are unable to handle the existing volume of effluent, according to city officials.The upgrades include replacement of the Water Street lift station and adjacent force main, installation of larger sewer mains parallel to the existing mains for both the east and west interceptor lines, (including bores under Interstate 70 and the railroad), improvements to the headworks and controls at the treatment plant, and equipment necessary to change to dry sludge handling.The amount of the bond issue includes the costs associated with acquisition of real estate, bond issuance costs, underwriters discount, and potential for requirement of a bond reserve fund. Terri Thorn, director of operations, said the bond issue will not raise taxes. “There is no tax increase associated with it,” she added.Thorn said the benefit of a bond issue approved by the voters is that it will save interest costs on the financing of the loan.“We’re saving users of our water and sewer system interest by having a voter-approved bond issue,” Thorn said. Thorn said the interest rate charged from financial institutions is lower when it is for a voter-approved bond issue.Alderman Gary Auch said the improvements were critical.“You feel like the kid with his finger in the dike before the dam gives out,” he said. “This really addresses the problem of the dam cracking, and this addresses what we must do to make sure these issues don’t continually come before the board and the community. It is a really critical bond issue. I think it will make a difference, and if we don’t address this we will continue to see people coming before the board with (sewer and water) issues.”Thorn said the improvements are also needed to prepare for future growth.“It was very clear from talking with the engineers that if we don’t undertake this and get these improvements made not only will some residents continue to see issues, but as the population grows it’s going to have a bigger impact on a larger area because the lines can only carry so much. If this goes unattended you can see the area impacted become larger.”Mayor Jerry Dyer agreed.“We don’t have much choice,” he said. “If we don’t address this now while we have a lull in growth, if we wait until the growth comes back, we won’t be able to handle it.”No one spoke in opposition to the bond issue at the Jan. 21 board of aldermen meeting.The language on the ballot states:Shall the city of Warrenton issue its combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds in the amount of $15.5 million for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, extending and improving the city’s combined waterworks and sewerage system, including improvements to the existing wastewater treatment plant and collection system and the acquisition of real estate and easements related thereto, the cost of operation and maintenance of said system and the principal of and interest on said revenue bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the city from the operation of its combined waterworks and sewerage system, including all future extensions and improvements thereto?Bond issue on April ballot