By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is expected to receive an updated engineering report for the wastewater treatment plant that should lay out plans for much-needed rehabilitation and how best to pay for it.

City Manager Sarah Purdy informed the councilors they would likely need to approve borrowing a significant amount of money to complete the work.

While city council will receive the report at the Jan. 24 meeting, councilors said they would like a few days to look it over before voting to borrow any money.

Council agreed to hold a special meeting Jan. 30 to discuss and vote on borrowing funds.

While early estimates for improvements at the plant were expected to cost around $10 million, more recent reports from the Development Authority of the North Country they have risen to about $15 million.

A report in March estimated the city would need to spend more than $5 million on mandatory upgrades, with additional necessary long-term improvements expected to cost another $5 million.

However, at the request of DANC officials, the city contracted with GHD Consulting for a preliminary engineering report to help the city prioritize improvements for cost effectiveness.

Estimates coming from that report suggest the scope of work required for improvements is now approaching $15 million.

DANC is also participating in discussions with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation regarding project funding.

In March the city agreed to contract with the Development Authority of the North Country to help manage the plant and plan for long-term improvements and upgrades.

The five-year contract will cost roughly $125,000 in the first year, gradually scaling up to about $140,000 by the final year.