The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA) is required to address/treat PFAS that is found in the leachate which is eventually discharged into the Carp River. The MCSWMA needs to build a wastewater treatment plant by 2027 to comply with a recent Administrative Consent Order with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The cost of the project exceeds $4 million. The project would qualify for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program (to include a low-interest rate loan with partial loan forgiveness) but for the MCSWMA to qualify, the organization must restructure its current outstanding debt, which does not comply with state regulations for an authority formed under Public Act 233.

The MCSWMA must restructure five outstanding debt/notes into one bond issuance prior to applying for CWSRF Program funding. The only way to properly restructure the debt is through bonding via the two incorporating entities of the Authority.

Under the current Articles of Incorporation for the MCSWMA, Sands Township and Marquette City are the only two incorporating entities that are able to assist with bonding. This project would impact the City’s bond rating and debt capacity.

The County has agreed to assist with the bonding with specific conditions. This requires an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, in order to add Marquette County as an incorporator.