Cape County Sewer District

https://www.kfvs12.com//fruitland-breaks-ground-new-waste/

Attention customers who pay by automatic withdrawal (ACH): The withdrawal from your account might be delayed a bit past the normal withdrawal date. I just wanted to let you know so you can keep your bank account balanced!

Groundbreaking! We officially broke ground this morning! The new treatment plant will be done in 365 days. Everybody will be hooked up within 730 days! It's going to be a mess during construction, but the mess will be temporary!

Let's talk for a minute about construction sequencing. First, this winter, Carstensen is most likely going to get started installing forcemains and gravity mains "cross country", along I-55 and other roads, and in cropland, pasture, commercial, and idle areas. Those areas can be better dealt with in times of marginal weather, and at times when crops won't have to be destroyed. The work in subdivisions and backyards is best left to summertime and periods of drier weather. ...Carstensen is also going to do the vast majority of work themselves, not hire subcontractors. The first drop of waste can't flow until the treatment plant and pumping stations are up and running. So as Penzel is building the plant, crews from Carstensen are going to be building mains, pump stations, and service lines. I have told a lot of you in unsewered areas (on septic systems) to expect the mains to be built, and then the contractor will leave and come back a second time to install the service lines to your house and hook it up. I was incorrect! Carstensen instead is first going to locate and expose your line coming from the house before it gets to your septic tank. They will install the main and the service line TO that location, but not make the actual hookup. The hole will be staked and filled in. The area disturbed by main and service line construction will be restored and reseeded, and the contractor will leave. Once the plant, pump stations, and collection system is complete and ready, the contractor will return, only having to dig down to the connection point previously identified, make the connection, and move on to the next house. This way, there will be only one primary "entry" on to your property, the second time they are there will be for a much briefer period of time needed to make only the actual hookup itself. This is a great approach. In my personal case, it means I will only have to cut and take down my fence once (and control my pack of dogs) during that initial constructions of mains and service line, which may take a few days. Then they leave, and when they come back to do the actual hookup, they only have to dig a single hole, get it done, and leave quickly. See more

I'm pleased to announce the Board unanimously approved bids tonight for the Fruitland Project. Penzel Construction of Jackson was awarded the bid for the wastewater treatment plant for $5,964,359. Carstensen Contracting of Dell Rapids, South Dakota was awarded the bid for the collection system for $19,378,098. Both are extremely qualified, excellent contractors. Both companies are eager to begin construction and will be underway in October or November, with a 24 month completion requirement.

https://rd.usda.gov//trump-administration-invests-over-178

BIG NEWS! USDA Rural Development approved a 60/40 loan to grant funding package for the project. The District is awarding our project construction bids at our September meeting. We will be under construction in October or November! It's finally happening! www.capecountysewer.org

I just wanted to get the message out! With the project up for bid, some companies preparing bids will be out and about in the area, on easements and pump station sites, digging holes and drilling looking for rock under the ground surface. The bid doesn't have a separate item for any rock encountered so the contractors want to know what they are getting into. So please don't be surprised if you are contacted by a contractor. I hope they don't just start digging in your yard, but stranger things have happened.

I'm happy to report the Fruitland Wastewater Project is OUT FOR BID!!!I'm happy to report the Fruitland Wastewater Project is OUT FOR BID!!!

Covid-19 news: We understand that many in our community are suffering financially because of the current crisis. I've spoken with the Board members and it's not official because we haven't made it official in our normal public meeting, but we are doing the following: 1) Suspending late fees. 2) We will NOT be raising our rates with the new fiscal year beginning July 1, at least for the first two quarters of the new fiscal year beginning July 1. That said, please continue... to pay your bill on time! IF you can't, please call our office and let us know! Hopefully the stimulus payment will help you get caught up, and we will work with you on that. Disclaimer on rates: Our base rate and our per/1000 gallon rates will NOT increase. HOWEVER, if your usage changed, down or up, from the last year, those adjustments will be made so your bill might go down or up. Newer customers who did not have service in December 2018-February 2019 are now paying an average, new customer rate. They will be changing to a Usage rate based on their December 2019-February 2020 water usage. SO your bills may change based on how much water you use, but our RATES are not changing. Please, everybody be safe, wash your hands, and never, ever, flush wipes, oils, or grease down the drain! See more

Please DO NOT call the emergency number for anything other than sewer system emergencies! If you have questions about your bill or the project, call our office number or email [email protected] I've had several emergency contacts with people asking about their bill or the status of the project and we will NOT be responding. It's like calling 911 and asking for a weather report. Our office number is 573-837-0588.

Effective immediately, the District office will remain staffed during normal business hours but will be closed to the public and customers the same as most other Federal, State, County, and Municipal government offices. Payments will accepted over the phone, from our website, and our two drop box locations. If you require a paid receipt or to pay in person, come by our office and use the drop box location located right outside our door, and knock on the door and they will assist you, even if it means slipping a receipt under the door to you! All our other services will continue as normal, including emergency response. You can reach our staff at 537-837-0588.

If you are on Cape County Sewer District sewer, chances are there is a pump or two at the treatment plant. If you live in Saddlebrooke there is one in your yard. Don't flush anything except human waste and toilet paper. Even "flushable" wipes are NOT flushable!

If you have sewer service, it is even more important to do what Bill says! If your service line or a main plugs up from wipes, rags, diapers, or other stuff flushed by you or others, the District is NOT responsible for damages to your property if the sewer backs up!