The Austin City Council unanimously approved dates for public hearings on the Waste Water Treatment Facility Plan and 5-year Capital Improvement Plan during its regular meeting Monday evening.

City Engineer Steven Lang provided the council with several waste water treatment plant design options during its work session meeting on Nov. 4. Lang is recommending an option that would utilize a combined activated sludge treatment process, which would work for current and future water regulations. The cost of such a facility is estimated to be $77.9 million; the city has been actively seeking grant funds to help offset the cost.

The city is looking at waste water treatment plant options as a means to upgrade the 80-year-old existing facility and allow it to meet phosphorus discharge regulations set by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The public hearing for the Waste Water Treatment Facility Plan will be during the council’s regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

The 5-year Capital Improvement Plan outlines the estimated schedule, timing and details of specific capital improvements, as well as estimated costs, the source of revenue and the need for the improvement, over the next five years.

The public hearing on the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan will be held during the council’s regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, in the City Council Chambers.

The council also voted to schedule a public open house on the DS-200 tabulating machines for all future city elections for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the City Council Chambers. City Clerk Ann Kasel said the council authorized the purchase of seven Elections Systems and Software DS-200 last year. The equipment is ready to use in the 2020 elections; however, the city must disseminate information to the public about the machines under Minnesota Statute.

Three elections, two primaries and one general, will be held in 2020.