Clearwater town council has given staff the go-ahead to apply for $1.9 million in federal gas tax funding to help pay for a sewer extension to the area south and west of Dutch Lake.
The funding would pay 2/3 of the projected $2.8 million cost of the project. Local taxpayers would pay the balance of about $920,000.
The property owners would contribute a large portion of the local share. This either could be paid when the project ended or the municipality could provide a repayment plan over 10 to 20 years.
The District would need to get approval through a referendum or alternative approval process before borrowing.
Council members felt that applying for funding to pay 100 per cent of the cost would likely not succeed and might delay the project.
The proposed project would include 94 parcels around the lake outlined in the initial study. The majority are residential, but there also included are resorts, commercial hotel and motels, and institutional.
Added to the project would be four lots below Harby Road next to the lake. These would add $130,000 to the project but were felt to be high priority because of the potential contamination of the lake.
Council had asked the consultants to look at including all of Harby Road area as well, but that would add 14 parcels and $711,000 to the project.