Stockton is considering tapping a portion of the $20 million allocated to the Utah Division of Water Quality by the federal government stimulus package to pay for a new sewer system.

The Stockton Town Council will convene tonight for an open house and public meeting to decide if the town council will vote to pursue the funding. If town council members approve the funding request, it will then go before the DWQ on April 1. Should the council or the DWQ deny the request, Stockton Mayor Dan Rydalch said the town will need to come up with $5.1 million themselves if they wish to pursue a sewer system.

“I’m hoping they’ll push it through because it’s our last chance for help,” Rydalch said. “Otherwise, we’ll have to come up with money to do it later on.”

Homes in Stockton city limits operate on septic systems while a few of the town’s oldest homes have cesspools.

“The [homes’] lots are too small to replace the septic system if it fails,” Rydalch said.

Prior to their notification of the stimulus money, Rydalch says the town was in the beginning stages of a plan to evaluate and track septic systems every three years and have them pumped out every five to seven years. Although the mayor says there have been few complaints or issues dealing with the septic system, eventually there could be problems.

If the state approves Stockton as a recipient of the stimulus money, the town will receive 75 percent of it as a grant and the rest as a loan, according to Rydalch.

Projects eligible for stimulus funds must be “shovel-ready,” which means they have to be under contract, in construction or previously planned — like Stockton’s sewer system — by Feb. 17, 2010. Stockton’s sewer system proposal was planned, voted on and denied by the town resident’s in 2005, which makes the town eligible for the stimulus money.

The town voted against installing a new system in 2005 because the cost would have increased residents’ monthly water bills to as much as $75. Rydalch wants the maximum payment for water and sewer for Stockton residents to be $43 per month. With a current bill of $34 for garbage and other utilities, the total price would be $77.

Council member David Durtschi is anxious to hear the town’s response to the sewer system proposal so the council can know which direction it should vote. His personal opinion, however, is that something needs to be done — eventually.

“Some Stockton residents don’t have land or property to put a new septic system in,” Durtschi said.

When he moved to Stockton 11 years ago, Durtschi said he had trouble with his septic tank only a year after it was installed.

“We had it cleaned out and serviced, and it was $400 at the time,” he said. “It’s good for 10 to 15 years, so we’re due again.”

According to Rydalch, a sewer system is the No. 1 priority for the town right now.

“[The state] is saying that we’re one of the top-priority cities that needs a sewer system,” he said. “What killed us before was the price jump on the monthly bill. That killed the project.”

However, residents may be shelling out a little more money for fixtures needed to hook-up to the system. This part of the project has not yet been decided upon.

If approved, Stockton will solicit bids for the project immediately and construction could begin in July, according to Rydalch.

“This is the kind of project they want to do with the stimulus project,” Rydalch said.

Stockton’s town council open house will take place tonight from 6:30-7 p.m. at the town fire station. Residents’ questions will be answered first, followed by a public hearing where residents can voice their concerns. Afterward, the council members will vote for the proposed funding request.

Missy Thompson: missy@tooeletranscript.com