Lakeland Regional Sewer District held a special meeting Monday at the North Webster Community Center to discuss the appropriation of funds for the ongoing sewer project.

The meeting was originally scheduled for May 13, but was unexpectedly cancelled.

LRSD board president Jim Haney began Monday night’s meeting by nixing all public questions and comments, noting a public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4, followed by the regularly scheduled meeting.

The total cost for the project came in at a little more than $28 million. The money will come in the form of a combination of loans and grants. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture places a limit on the amount of individual loans, the loan will be distributed in three parts: $9.5-, $8.5- and $2.89 million.

The grant offered to the LRSD sits at $8.2 million.

Monday night’s bright spot for those affected by this multi-million dollar project was the first reading of rate ordinances. After an intense discussion at the previous meeting, where rate estimates were capped around $90 per month, residents heard the single family residential cost would be $69.95 monthly. The board also noted there would be additional costs for sewage that tested with high levels of phosphorous, ammonia, fats, grease and other environmentally harmful substances.

Additionally, LRSD is required to set aside a 10 percent debt service reserve, and separate the construction cost payments into a different checking account.

LRSD board voted to accept the terms and conditions set out by the USDA and to amend the bond ordinance following the received funding.