By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorWarrenton voters on Tuesday, April 8, will be asked to authorize revenue bonds to finance improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment and collection system.City officials say the improvements are needed for the sewer system to continue to adequately transport waste to the treatment facility and for the waste to be effectively treated at the plant.Officials warn that a “no” means the city will have to finance the projects resulting in higher interest costs and higher user rates.The total cost of the project, including construction, bond issuance and financing cost, and reserves is $15.5 million.Planned improvements include the installation of larger sewer mains parallel to the existing sewer mains which collect sewage from smaller lines throughout the city and transport it to the treatment plant.Engineers have determined that the city’s east and west sewer mains are of inadequate size. Additionally, the Water Street lift station, which pumps and transports sewage from the southeastern portion of the city to the sewer main, also will be replaced.Improvements to the treatment plant include upgraded equipment at the head-works and controls, as well as the change to dry sludge handling.Officials say the city must make the necessary improvements to allow the sewer system to continue to adequately function.“The question is not whether to implement the project, but how to best finance it,” said Terri Thorn, director of operations. “Without voter approval, it will be necessary to fund the improvements through higher interest cost financing which will result in higher user fees.”Officials say $15.5 million is needed for all three phases of the project, with phase one costing $9 million.If the bonds are approved, they will be paid with revenues collected from the users of the sewer system.Officials noted that there will not be a tax increase associated with the bonds.“The city does not have sufficient funds on hand to finance the project,” said Thorn.Officials say if the improvements are not made, the interceptor lines on both the east and west sides of the city will be unable to handle the continually increasing volume of sewage. This will result in a progressively larger area being affected by sewer backups and manhole overflows.Mayor Jerry Dyer said the improvements are necessary to handle the current population of the city effectively.“Future growth will increase the severity of the problem and affect a larger area,” he said.The project will be completed in three phases with the engineering for the first phase beginning immediately.The first phase includes the east interceptor line and the Water Street lift station replacement, along with the head-works and controls at the treatment plant with those being the most critical.Additional phases will be implemented as funding is available for the debt service.The ballot language reads:Shall the city of Warrenton, Missouri, issue its combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds in the amount of Fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($15,500,000) 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?”Warrenton officials tout importance of bond issue