The Meridian City Council on Tuesday approved an $8.1 million loan application for a revolving loan fund to help improve the city’s drinking water system.

Public Works Director Hugh Smith told the council that the Mississippi Department of Health loan would be paid back over 20 years at an interest rate of 1.95 percent. The city would pay about $490,000 each year from surplus funds in the water budget.

“If we wait much longer, we’ll be in a reactive mode rather than a proactive mode,” Smith told council members, who were concerned with the possibility of increased water rates and the loan’s interest rate.

Improvements would include adding wells, rehabilitating filters and replacing process pumps primarily at the north wastewater treatment plant. Smith said the work could take up to 10 months. If the loan is approved, the project could be up and

If the loan is approved, the project could be up and running by late November.

The council also approved an order authorizing a change order at the south wastewater treatment plant. The change order will cost $129,086.

At the mayor’s request, the council also approved the appointment of Robert D. Jones as municipal judge, Amanda Rainey as prosecuting attorney and Pamela Bittick as assistant prosecuting attorney.

George Culpepper, Rick Entrekin, Catherine Jones, Josephine Virgil-Hughes and Mary Wilson were reappointed to the municipal election commissioners.

In other action, the council approved:

– an order authorizing acceptance of a bid from Waters International Trucks, Inc., for two tandem axle dump trucks for $219,260.40

– an order authorizing submission of a $3,000 grant application for funding of Earth’s Bounty and Farmers Market activities

– an order authorizing submission of a $2,500 grant application for funding of Merry Meridian Market activities

– an order authorizing submission of a $2,500 grant application for funding of Meridian Mardi Gras Celebration activities

– an order authorizing an agreement with Leading Edges as Agency of Record for website/social media maintenance at a rate of $2,500 per month