Spirit Lake bond levy open houses tonight, May 8

SPIRIT LAKE — Open houses on Spirit Lake's bond levy proposal for wastewater treatment improvements on the May 15 ballot will be held tonight and May 8 at City Hall from 2 to 6 p.m.

The $1.8 million bond will add a lagoon, increase efficiencies for the irrigation land application system and enhance the biological treatment process.

Voter approval of 51 percent is needed for the bond to pass, which gives the city permission to incur a debt of 40 years.

If approved, the bond will increase the monthly sewer bill $2 per month

The city also plans to increase the sewer rate $3 per month for maintenance and operation of the system. That will be implemented regardless whether the bond passes. The two increases would increase monthly bills a total of $5 from $26 to $31.

There will be information displays, engineers and city staff at the open houses.