The Star Harbor City Council plans to build a wastewater treatment plant to serve residents’ needs.
The council announced the plan at the Feb. 13, 2017, meeting. Wasteline Engineering Inc. of Aledo will design the plant
Star Harbor has bought wastewater services from the City of Malakoff in the past for residents who do not use their own septic tanks.
The cost of those services has risen from $3,400 monthly to $15,485. Council members said the increase no longer justifies using Malakoff services because enough is being spent for the city to operate own plant.
Star Harbor has filed a grievance with the Public Utilities Commission about the increased price. City officials claimed the increase is unreasonable.
Star Harbor will continue to use Malakoff services while the complaint is pending, according to The Monitor. Officials plan to pay the old rate and place the difference between the old and new rates in an escrow account.
One council member said that if the city paid the new rate it would imply acceptance of a new contract amount.