Bond project from 2005 will finance most of Benton's service extensions

Don White and Harlie Ables, spokesmen for Ratepayers Opposed to Political Favors, say they want a "level playing field" for all developers and builders. They are collecting signatures for a petition calling for a November referendum on annexing all land covered by the past two pre-annexation agreements for development across the Saline River. However, an annexation ordinance being drawn up by City Attorney Brent Houston could bring the area into the city months earlier. The group said that the sooner annexation occurs, the better.

Needs of current and future Benton residents will be met through a $26.5 million bondfunding project initiated in 2005.

Bonds were issued to repair aging sewer lines, extend and upgrade service to high-growth areas and to meet the city's needs for the next 20 years, Benton Utilities manager Terry McKinney said.

"Most of the expansions and upgrades were in place last year and projects were typically completed on time and under budget," McKinney said.

One of 2007's largest projects was a $3.1 million equalization basin, built on 37.67 acres on South Market Street. It's near the wastewater treatment plant, which is located at 616 W. Hazel St.

The project ended about $100,000 under budget, and was completed "well before the deadline set forth in a consent order" from Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, McKinney said.

In April 2005, ADEQ gave Benton Utilities three years to build an equalization basin to handle overflow from the city's wastewater treatment plant. By completing the basin ahead of schedule, the Utilities Commission saved money on the overall project, McKinney said.

The facility was completed in the fall and can hold 57 million gallons of inflow and infiltration that can't be handled by the wastewater treatment plant.

During heavy rainfalls, groundwater fills the sewer system. Without a suitable equalization basin, the treatment plant could become overloaded.

An upgrade to the city's "aging" wastewater treatment plant is the costliest upgrade. Within the next couple of years, the $14.9 million upgrade should be online. The plant will be able to treat an additional five million gallons of sewage daily.

McKinney said upgrades are currently expected to cost $1.3 million under the budget projection.