THURSDAY, September 24, 2026|
Photo – Town of Saratoga logo – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
Saratoga officials will ask the State Loan and Investment Board for more money to complete needed sewer improvements.
The Town of Saratoga is undertaking major sewer and water infrastructure upgrades. The West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, which involved repairing and replacing roughly 7,000 feet of deteriorating underground water lines on the west side of town, was completed earlier this month. The next effort is the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements Project to replace two sewer lines running beneath the North Platte River.
During the September 2nd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner announced that Oftedal Construction of Casper submitted the lowest bid for the sewer replacement project at $3,199,535.90, or just over $166,000 over the engineer’s estimate. The contractor’s bid, combined with an additional 20 percent for engineering and related project costs, brings the total price to $3,839,443.08. The town received a $3.15 million grant from the State Revolving Fund, leaving $689,433.08 unfunded.
Penner recommended requesting another SRF loan from the Office of State Lands and Investments to cover the remaining cost of the sewer replacement project. He said the town must hold a public hearing and draft a resolution before the State Loan and Investment Board meets on October 1st. The governing body agreed to award Oftedal Construction the contract before receiving confirmation that SLIB will approve the second funding request.
On Tuesday evening, the Saratoga Town Council held the required public hearing where Public Works Director Penner explained that the town is asking the state for the remaining $689,433.08 needed to complete the North Platte River sewer replacement project.
No members of the public spoke for or against the matter and the Saratoga Town Council voted to approve the resolution to seek additional funding from the State Revolving Fund. Penner added that he expects the second loan to carry 50 percent principal forgiveness, the same as the original.
The State Loan and Investment Board will consider the town’s second SRF loan request during its October 1st meeting. If the loan is denied, the remaining costs will be covered by Saratoga’s sewer enterprise fund.
