Council committee approves $300,000 appropriation to extend water main to PCA site

The Finance Committee on Sept. 2 approved a $300,000 appropriation to fund part of a planned 16-inch water main extension west of Thornwood Drive and Fayette Drive to connect to a Packaging Corporation of America site. Council Member Parker moved the item and the committee approved it 5-0. The committee recorded an unappropriated general fund balance of $244,169 and a budget stabilization balance of $558,848 at the start of the meeting. City staff told the committee the waterline would provide service to the PCA site and that the full project is approximately $500,000; the $300,000 request represents roughly three-quarters of the city’s share for the work. A staff presenter said the city has submitted the proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval and that the city and PCA are cooperating on funding and timing so PCA can begin construction. Committee members asked for clarifications about acronyms and project location. Committee action was an appropriation vote; no final construction contract was approved during the meeting. The committee approved the appropriation by voice vote, 5-0. The city said the water main will be a public utility line when built and that the extension is intended to permit PCA to connect at the new site; the staff presentation described the PCA project as a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar industrial development. The committee did not set a construction start date; staff said timing depends on EPA approval and project scheduling.