PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP

The City of West Frankfort, Illinois, and Environmental Management Corporation (EMC) have launched a $4.5 million public-private partnership which involves replacement of 95 percent of the City's existing cast iron mains with nearly 50 miles of new PVC mains.

This project is believed to be the first "total replacement" of a water distribution system for a community of West Frankfort's size in at least a decade. In addition to the mains, EMC will replace approximately 80 percent of the individual service lines and meters. Other improvements include the addition of 150 fire hydrants and partial renovation of the system's two water storage tanks.

Under this historic public-private partnership arrangement, EMC is designing and constructing the system upgrade, and is guaranteeing substantial reductions in water loss and annual maintenance costs for the next 5 years of operation. According to Mayor John Simmons of West Frankfort, the savings in water purchases and maintenance cost are partially offsetting the cost of financing the system upgrade. "This project is critical for West Frankfort because pressure problems, boil orders, and tire protection problems have plagued our residents and businesses for years. EMC has brought this project to fruition in less time and for less money than the City could have done it. And they are guaranteeing our annual operating cost afterward", stated Mayor Simmons.

This joint project of West Frankfort and EMC represents the first public/private partnership in the water field since incentives for private companies were restricted by the tax act of 1986, according to Bill Reinhardt, editor and publisher of "Public Works Financing" magazine in Washington, D.C. •

Page 14 / Illinois Municipal Review / September 1990