IROQUOIS — By a 4-0 vote, the Iroquois City Council moved forward Monday with a sewer improvement project estimated to cost nearly $900,000.

The unanimous vote to proceed came after a June public meeting and after the project was placed on the state water facilities plan.

Council member Jim Hulbert said the board is hopeful the project can begin this fall.

“As soon as we hear that we have the funding, hopefully we can get started on things,” he said.

The proposal is to hire a contractor to re-line all of the sewer pipes in town, with the exception of a line on one street that is so deteriorated it will have to be excavated and replaced. Thirteen manholes will also be replaced.

The funding package includes a $490,000 loan and a $365,000 grant from USDA Rural Development. The interest rate for the loan would be at 3.25 percent for 40 years. The city must also contribute $20,000 from its own funds.

The public meeting last month went well, with about 25 to 30 residents attending and asking questions after a presentation.

“Everybody is of the opinion that we don’t have any choice,” Hulbert said of the need. “There was really no opposition to it.”

The 90-year-old clay tile system of wastewater collection is crumbling, and sections of pipe are breaking away. Pieces of pipe are ending up in the pumps, damaging them.

Residents also understand that if the work isn’t done now, it will just keep getting more expensive, Hulbert said. Three years ago, the city spent $60,000 to fix a problem under Highway 14 where just one line feeds from north to south.

It would cost $1.5 million to tear up the streets and install new sewer lines.

Council members have researched their options for the past two years. But they said they wouldn’t proceed with a project unless the public supported it.

For the complete article see the 07-21-2010 issue.

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