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.
Village leaders in Glen Carbon are weighing bond financing and a citizen-led vote option after being denied a $27 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a new water treatment plant. The denial has pushed officials to pursue private financing authority while continuing efforts to secure state aid.
A village Finance Committee approved an ordinance that would clear the way for a so-called “back door referendum”, a process that allows residents to petition to place a bond question on a public ballot. The ordinance is expected to go before the full village board at its meeting on August 26.
If the full board approves the ordinance, residents would have 30 days to gather signatures to force the bond question onto the ballot for the March 17, 2026 election. If no petition is filed in that window, the village could move ahead with bond financing on its own authority. If a petition qualifies, voters would decide whether the village can borrow the funds.
Village staff explained the Illinois EPA application was turned down because the project did not score high enough in a competitive allocation process. Officials characterized the grants and loans from the agency as increasingly targeted to projects with the most urgent need, leaving communities like Glen Carbon to consider other funding paths.
State officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the decision.
The Finance Committee that advanced the ordinance includes Trustees Ben Maliszewski, Brian Paul and Mark Foley. Committee members framed the measure as an authorization only: it would permit the village board to issue bonds but would not bind the village to construct a water plant.
Village administrators said the plan is to secure the authority to borrow privately if needed, then solicit construction bids. If bidding shows the project is too costly, the village could opt to continue buying water from outside suppliers instead of building its own plant.
Glen Carbon closed its municipal water treatment plant in the 1990s and has since relied on outside providers. The village initially purchased water from Edwardsville and now receives supply from a regional private utility. That utility has proposed a new, long-term contract should Glen Carbon decide not to pursue a local treatment plant.
Village officials are comparing costs and say the choice comes down to what proves most economical for residents. Officials also note that asking residents to support borrowing for a plant could prompt public debate about whether returning to an independent plant makes financial sense.
The board’s August 26 vote will determine whether the petition route and bond authorization proceed. If the ordinance passes and no petition follows within 30 days, the village could immediately move to secure private financing. If a petition is filed and certified, the bond question would appear on the March 17, 2026 ballot for voter approval.
Officials emphasized they plan to seek construction bids once bonding authority is secured to get a clearer picture of costs. Depending on bid results, the village could choose to build, continue purchasing water, or seek other funding.
Nearby school district building work is set to make for a busy summer. The local school system announced numerous security upgrades, roof replacements, solar installations and major additions funded by bonds, debt certificates and insurance proceeds. Projects include secure double entries at many schools, replacement of several roofs due to hail damage, expanded solar arrays, and a large addition at a middle school that includes asbestos abatement and temporary classrooms.
These school projects are part of a broader pattern of municipal and educational infrastructure work in the region and may affect contractor availability and local construction market conditions—factors Glen Carbon officials say they will consider when seeking bids for a treatment plant.
The full board vote on whether to adopt the ordinance is scheduled for August 26. If approved, the 30-day petition period would follow immediately. The potential voter decision on bonds would occur on March 17, 2026, if a valid petition is filed.
Q: What happened with the Illinois EPA loan request?
A: The village’s application for a $27 million loan was denied because the project did not score high enough in the agency’s competitive funding process.
Q: What is a “back door referendum”?
A: It is a process that lets residents petition to place a bond issue on a public ballot. If enough signatures are gathered within the allowed time frame, voters decide the borrowing question.
Q: What comes next for Glen Carbon?
A: The village board will consider an ordinance on August 26 that would permit bonding authority. If approved, residents would have 30 days to petition for a ballot vote; otherwise the village could proceed with bonds.
Q: Will the village definitely build a new water plant?
A: No. The ordinance would authorize the board to issue bonds but would not commit the village to construction. Officials plan to get bids first and then decide based on cost and other factors.
Q: How does this affect current water supply?
A: For now, Glen Carbon will continue relying on outside suppliers. Officials have said they may accept a long-term contract offer from the current supplier if building a plant is not economically feasible.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| State loan | Illinois EPA denied a $27 million loan due to low application score |
| Alternative considered | Issuing municipal bonds through private financing authority |
| Citizen option | Back door referendum allowing petitions to place bonds on March 17, 2026 ballot |
| Timeline | Full board vote Aug. 26; 30-day petition window if ordinance passes; potential ballot March 17, 2026 |
| Current water source | Purchasing water from a regional supplier; earlier purchased from neighboring municipality |
| Finance Committee | Trustees Ben Maliszewski, Brian Paul and Mark Foley advanced the ordinance |
| Next steps | Seek bonding authority, solicit construction bids, compare costs versus purchasing water |
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