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Mexico City
Missouri may sell wastewater treatment facility assets The According to Parish, the asset purchase agreement is
actually a sales contract for the facility and is subject to voter
approval, as well as approval of the public service commission.
The issue will be on the upcoming people four election ballot. The agreement includes a $5.1 million price tag; a
three year rate freeze and the assumption of five of the six employees at
the plant with the sixth employee being retained by the city in another
department. Parrish explained to the council prior to their vote
that due to a lawsuit in the last couple of years that sought to enforce
the EPA guidelines set forth in 1978, Missouri would now be required to
increase their number of whole body contact lakes and streams from 5,000
to 20,000. That would mean
tougher regulations on more bodies of water and Parish isn’t certain
Mexico could keep up with all the regulations and keep sewer rates as low
as they are currently. A cost study done by city administrative staff showed
a projected increase in sewer rates are 40% if the city retains control
over the facility and that estimate does not include costs that may be
accrued in keeping pace with EPA regulations. “I think there are some good reasons here for going ahead and doing this, but again, it is up to the public,” Parish explained to the council. The sales contract must be entered into by the council before the matter can become one of public majority.
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