Capac residents facing higher water bills

Increases with Sept. bill; Taco Bell breaks ground

 

CAPAC — After action being taken during a village council meeting, Village Manager Travis Youatt has sent a notice to residents concerning their new water bill rates.

At the regular June 28, 2024 council meeting, the Village of Capac Council approved:

“An ordinance to provide for the acquisition and construction of additions, extensions and improvements to the water supply system of Village of Capac; to provide for the issuance and sale of junior lien revenue bonds to pay the cost thereof; to prescribe the form of the bonds; to provide for the collection of revenues from the system sufficient for the purpose of payingthe cost of operations and maintenance of the system andmaintenance of the system and to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds; to provide for security for the bonds; to provide for the segregation and distribution of revenues; to provide for the rights of the holders of the bonds in enforcement thereof; for other matters relating to the bonds and the system.”

Youatt said, “The majority of the project is required by EGLE and to be completed immediately. The total project budget is approximately $8,410,000, of which $4,131,500 will be a grant and $4,278,500 will be a 2% low-interest loan over paid back over 40 years.”

In a notice to village residents, Youatt explained the bond debt fee to 5/8” waterline residential water users is $26.21 quarterly and is effective July 1, 2024, and will be on the September billing statement.

Commercial accounts will be billed based on the size of the water service line. This new fee will be restricted to the maintenance and repair of the Village of Capac’s water system, including the following upgrades: Water system improvements, including filter media removal and replacement, water tank repairs, improvements to backwash operation, including additional filter air scour grids, media retaining troughs, and piping modifications at the Arsenic Removal Plant; abandonment of an existing well, electrical and SCADA improvements; installation of a mixer in the elevated storage tank: replacement of approximately 9,200 ft of water main and appurtenances; replacement of non-operable mainline isolation valves; lead-service line replacement (LSLR) and installation of new meters and MIUs; street paving replacement and restoration.

With the improvements as a result of the work, “when we have a issue of some kind, we’ll only be shutting off three or four homeowners. Before it’d be 60 or 80,” Youatt said.

He went on to add, “The new valves will be a real help to us. It will allow us to shut off certain quadrants, or sections of the village. Before, we had to disrupt alot of users.”

Youatt said work will be done throughout the village.

“Really, residents here have had pretty inexpensive water service. With this $26 a month increase (for 40 years) the village will have great water service. It’s been needed for a lot of years,” Youatt said.

The village manager, now in his third year in Capac, says the town is improving in leaps and bounds.

“It’s all good stuff that is going to take us in to the future in a good position,” he said. “With getting over $12 million in grants and low interest loans since I have been here, we are able to do a lot of this work and keep the burden of the costs off the taxpayers shoulders. The council really believes if we are proactive and not re-active, it will be much better for our citizens. The council has been great to work with.”

Two other topics in Capac worth mentioning: One is the purchase of the Choice One Bank building by the village and the news of a newbusiness, Taco Bell, breaking ground for a new fast food location, on Capac Rd, just north of the Love’s Truck Stop.

“The village had the opportunity to purchase the bank and council felt it was a good move,” Youatt explained. “There is a lot of potential and the bank will still be there. They use about 40% of the building. We will move several village departments to the building and it will be great for us. We hope to be all moved over there by January of next year.”

As for Taco Bell, Youatt said, “They broke ground not too long ago and they are getting after it full blast. They bought around eight acres there, just north of the truck stop and they are telling us they will be open this fall.”

If you have any questions or concerns, you are encouraged to contact Youatt at 810-395-4355 ext.13 or manager@villageofcapac.com.