Ashland residents voted to approve a $7 million bond Tuesday.
The bond money goes toward building a new water sewage treatment plant for the city. Mayor Gene Rhorer said the city currently uses a lagoon-type treatment facility that operates under a Department of Natural Resources permit in a testing phase, but the current facility does not meet DNR regulations. Rhorer said the bond will be good for the city and citizens.
"What that equates to for the citizens, since they passed the bond issue, we'll be able to obtain revolving funds and state financing, which would be lower than private financing that will keep our utility rates down. That will save us a lot of money as a community."
Rhorer said the city is currently in the bottom 30 percent of what it charges for wastewater, but the city might have to go up to 50 percent now. Rhorer said the city will still be in the bottom majority of the state in what it charges for wastewater.
Rhorer said now engineers will begin drawing plans and the city will clear the area to build the new treatment plant.