Trending
COLUMBIANA -- The city is hoping to acquire grant funding to help pay for the construction of a new lift station that will replace two existing lift stations, allowing the city to serve 211 more acres of area.
City Manager Lance Willard said the new large triplex lift station will replace the duplex lift station on North Main Street and the lift station on state Route 164.
"This project had been talked about for many years and becomes more critical as each year passes. The large lift station that this project will replace was built in 1979 and is in desperate need of replacement," Willard said of the existing lift station on North Main Street.
The city was able to put in a grant application for Community Project Funding through Congressman Bill Johnson's office last month.
Council met in special session on March 14 to pass legislation appropriating just over $1.38 million into the capital improvement fund to show proof of funds for the city's cost of the project, should the grant be awarded.
During this week's council meeting Willard told council that he was contacted by Rep. Johnson who informed him that the request passed the "first hurdle" in the funding process.
Willard explained that the request met the criteria for complying with the types of projects to be submitted for Community Project Funding.
"That first step is an important step, but it does not mean it's been funded. He will keep us posted as he gets information," Willard said.
The city is hoping for at least a 55 to 75 percent grant, he has said.
Should the grant be awarded the city anticipates starting the project by Sept. 1 and complete over a period of between six to nine months.
"This project will benefit many of our current citizens by securing a more reliable infrastructure and at the same time will allow more areas to gain access to sewer. Total service area will be 411 acres," Willard said.
Additionally, he said the city plans to upgrade a waterline that will help with fire protection and allow the city to grow to the north.
"A new sewer force main will be installed replacing the old which has been failing over the past few years. The gravity sewers will be installed deep enough to eliminate three other lift stations with the potential to eliminate over 40 failing septic tanks currently outside the city," he said.