Village considers bond financing and a possible referendum for a proposed water treatment plant.
Glen Carbon, August 18, 2025
Glen Carbon officials are preparing to issue bonds to fund a proposed new water treatment plant after a $27 million state loan application was denied. The Finance Committee approved an ordinance to allow the village to seek private financing authority while preserving a 30-day “back door” referendum that lets residents gather signatures to put the bond question on the ballot. The full village board will consider the ordinance next, and if adopted the village would solicit construction bids and compare costs against continuing to buy water from outside providers.
Glen Carbon officials are preparing to issue bonds to pay for a proposed new water treatment plant after the village was turned down for a $27 million loan from the state environmental agency. The Finance Committee approved an ordinance that would let the village seek private financing authority while residents can still force a public vote on the borrowing.
The denial from the state came after Glen Carbon failed to score high enough in a competitive application process that appears to favor communities with the most urgent needs. Village leaders say the state remains a funding option, but village staff want the ability to move quickly if state support does not materialize.
The ordinance approved by the Finance Committee would allow a so-called back door referendum. That process gives residents 30 days to collect signatures to put the bond question before voters. If no petition is filed within the 30-day window, the village could proceed with bond financing. If enough residents do petition, the question would be placed on the ballot for the March 17, 2026 election, and voters would decide whether the village may borrow the funds.
Committee members who acted on the measure include three trustees. The approval at the committee level sends the ordinance to the full village board, which was expected to consider it at a late August meeting. If the board adopts the ordinance, the 30-day petition period would begin.
Village leadership emphasizes that allowing bond authority does not commit the village to build the plant. The authority simply creates the financing option. Village officials plan to get bids for construction once they know bonding is possible. If bids are much higher than expected, the village could choose to keep buying water from outside providers rather than proceed with construction.
Glen Carbon has not operated its own water treatment plant since the 1990s. For decades the village has purchased treated water from outside companies. Initially Glen Carbon bought water from the neighboring city; currently the village relies on a private water company. That company has offered a new permanent contract if Glen Carbon decides not to build its own facility. Village leaders say the decision now comes down to cost and long-term value for residents.
Officials describe state funding programs as highly competitive and geared toward communities with the most severe needs. In light of that reality, the village is pursuing multiple tracks: continue to apply for state or grant aid while also securing the legal ability to issue bonds and seek private financing. Officials plan to request construction bids once bonding authority is in place, then compare bid prices to the cost of purchasing water under a long-term contract.
Nearby school construction and upgrades show the region is heading into a busy building season. The local school district outlined a large slate of summer projects that include secure double-entry vestibules across most school buildings, roof repairs and replacements, solar panel installations, asphalt work, and a large addition at a middle school. Many of those efforts are funded by recent bonds, insurance proceeds, or debt certificates. The volume of public construction in the area underscores the current demand for contractors and the pressure on bids and schedules.
If the board approves the ordinance and no petition is filed, the village could move ahead with bond sales and then solicit construction bids. If a petition is filed and the question is placed on the March 17, 2026 ballot, voters will make the final decision about borrowing the money. Either way, officials say the petition process would not delay the village’s plan to get construction bids. Residents should expect notices about the ordinance, information on petition procedures, and updates when bids are requested.
The village has a history of reusing and preserving local buildings, including converting an early 20th-century schoolhouse into a heritage museum. That museum recently marked a milestone anniversary with community events. Across the county, voters also face a variety of local races and ballot measures in municipal and school elections, showing that public finance and local projects remain central to community life.
The village was denied a $27 million loan from the state environmental agency for a new water treatment plant.
A back door referendum is a process where residents can collect signatures to place a bond question on a public ballot. If enough valid signatures are gathered within a set time, the borrowing decision goes to voters.
No. The ordinance would only allow the village to issue bonds; it does not commit the village to build the plant. The village will still compare construction bids and the cost of buying water before making a final decision.
If residents gather enough signatures within the 30-day window, the bond question would be placed on the March 17, 2026 ballot for voters to decide.
Village officials say the petition process will not change the time frame for soliciting construction bids.
The village could continue to buy water from outside providers under existing or new contracts, including a proposed permanent contract from the current private supplier.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| State loan | $27,000,000 request denied by state environmental agency |
| Local option | Authorize bond issuance; pursue private financing |
| Back door referendum | Residents have 30 days to petition; if successful, measure goes to March 17, 2026 ballot |
| Committee | Finance Committee approved ordinance and sent it to the full board |
| Alternatives | Continue purchasing water from outside suppliers; consider new permanent contract offer |
| Next steps | Full board consideration, 30-day petition window, solicitation of construction bids |
| Local construction context | Nearby school upgrades and roof, solar and security projects are expected to keep contractors busy |
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