The city of Truesdale is in negotiations with an engineering firm that would examine the city’s options for building a sewage treatment plant or accessing new alternatives for sewer service.

Truesdale is in talks with Klingner & Associates, a Midwestern engineering firm, to provide preliminary engineering and possibly future work on the project, said Alderman Jerry Cannon during a June 24 public meeting. The firm has not yet been officially contracted for the work.

Truesdale is examining options for providing its own sewer service or accessing a new provider that can handle future growth in the city. Neighboring Warrenton, which currently provides sewer service in Truesdale, announced in February that no more outside development would be accepted until Warrenton’s treatment plant is expanded, likely in 2027.

Without additional sewer service, Truesdale can’t continue welcoming new development, which is a major setback for the city’s pro-growth leadership.

Cannon said he, Mayor Chris Watson, and other representatives met with three engineering firms about the project, and saw a unique advantage with Klingner.

“One of the biggest things is, they have more experience working with small communities, about our size,” Cannon said. Another big advantage is that Klingner doesn’t have prior business dealings with other nearby cities that could lead to a conflict of interests, Cannon added.

Mayor Watson said he was impressed by all three firms interviewed for the sewer project, but that Klingner’s presentation most closely aligned with Truesdale’s goals. He said the firm’s focus on smaller communities includes extensive knowledge of grant funding available for public projects.

“They had a good grasp on the project as a whole, and how to build a very simple, efficient and low-cost system,” Watson said. “And they were very upfront with us to let us know that it might not be something that’s affordable. ... It might be something that we have to outsource (to another sewer provider).”

Outside Warrenton, the closest sewage treatment network is Public Water Supply District 2, which serves Wright City and the surrounding area. A preliminary engineering study will compare the cost of connecting to that system, building a new plant, or any other available options.

Watson said quickly getting new sewage capacity online is key to taking advantage of an ongoing housing boom.

“We’ve got a short deadline to make all this happen. ... Even with COVID-19 going on, people are still buying (houses), businesses are still being built,” Watson commented.

To pay for engineering and possible construction of a sewage treatment plant, Watson said the city is working with Boonslick Regional Planning Commission to seek grants that would cover a significant majority of the cost.