Central Arkansas Water plans to use about $20 million worth of water revenue bonds to finance improvements to the utility's water distribution system and treatment facilities, as well as the acquisition of land, equipment and software.
The utility's board of commissioners voted at its Thursday meeting to approve the sale of the bonds.
A cost breakdown that was provided to the commissioners but said to be subject to change showed about $4.7 million going toward purchasing land in the Lake Maumelle watershed. Lake Maumelle is one of the utility's two water sources, along with Lake Winona.
The largest chunk of land, which the utility plans to purchase for about $3.6 million, is in the area owned by domestic timberland owner and wood products manufacturer PotlatchDeltic Corp. The annexation of those 180 acres in western Pulaski County to Little Rock was approved by the city Board of Directors in August.
About $3.75 million was allotted for replacing the utility's customer service information system.
In addition, $3.5 million is planned to go toward upgrades Central Arkansas Water will need to make in conjunction with the 30 Crossing project to remake the 6.7-mile Interstate 30 corridor through downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock.
The widening of a section of Arkansas 10 in west Little Rock requires similar upgrades from the utility, for which $2.25 million of bond funding has been allotted.
Nearly $4 million was allotted for installing and relocating pipe, and nearly $700,000 was set aside for pump station and building improvements.
A public hearing on the use of bonds was held Wednesday afternoon, but no members of the public were said to have attended. The mayors of Little Rock and North Little Rock were notified in August. The bond sale will close near the beginning of December.
Also at its Thursday meeting, the water utility board of commissioners approved a nearly $190,000 contract to remove and dispose of chemicals from the Maumelle water treatment plant as well as a roughly $108,000 contract for engineering work related to the removal and replacement of the river crossing at a Forest Legacy Project site in the Maumelle River.
Metro on 10/12/2018