Mt. Vernon Charts New Course With
Wastewater Treatment Plan

The City of Mt. Vernon is the first in the State of Illinois, and the Midwest, to contract the total design, construction and operation of its wastewater treatment facility with a single private firm. The benefits to the city are immediate and far-reaching.

Environmental Management Corporation (EMC), headquartered in St. Louis, will design, build and operate the facility under the terms of a 20-year contract with Mt. Vernon. The plan, approved by the Mt. Vernon City Council, is segmented into two contracts — one for construction and the second for operation and maintenance.

Construction of the new facility marks the culmination of a process initiated several years ago by current city officials who accelerated their efforts in 1985, when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) placed a construction ban on the city. At that time, the city and EMC formed a public-private partnership to solve the city's problem. This joint approach is based exclusively on private financing with no grant assistance from federal or state agencies.

As a result of freedom from federal and state grant requirements, coupled with the technical expertise of EMC, the company is able to design and build the improvements needed to meet state and federal pollution standards for $5.025 million. This represents a savings of approximately $3.5 million and four years of time compared to the original cost estimate by the city's own consulting engineer.

EMC will assume all of the responsibilities and liabilities connected with the treatment facility, while the city retains ownership. Dealing with a single source to design, construct and operate the facility relieves the city of the responsibility of coordinating all of these activities and sorting out the liability if any problems arise in the future.

According to Mt. Vernon Mayor Rolland W. Lewis, "The EPA now has a new innovative tool they've been given to take to the other 200 communities in Illinois in the same boat we are."

Environmental Management Corporation provides operation and maintenance services and management expertise for water and wastewater facilities. The company works in conjunction with its affiliate, Paric Corporation, in offering single source design, construction and operation services. •

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / September 1987