Several items regarding the water and sewer were discussed at the city meeting Tuesday night.
An engineering project regarding the water line along Mississippi 198 from Sumrall Road to Pine Ridge Road was approved. The Board of Aldermen decided to go ahead and replace the line.
A second engineering project to do rehabilitation to the lift stations at two locations in the Popetown area of the city was also approved.
The board approved a resolution from the Department of Finance and Administration for a state obligation bond the city received for a matching grant of $500,000 for water and sewer upgrades.
“We are very appreciate of Sen. Angela Hill, Rep. Ken Morgan and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann in helping us receive those funds,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said on Thursday.
The city did not qualify for a rural development grant because the water rates, while comparable in the state, are considered low nationally and it was declared the city was stable financially, McKenzie said.
The board put a $2 million cap on a USDA loan for water and sewer improvements throughout. The total project is estimated to cost $3.9 million, but McKenzie and the board did not want to put that much of a financial burden on the city.
In other actions, Keep Columbia and Marion County Beautiful organization received a work trailer that was donated to the city. The group was recognized as a 2019 President’s Circle Award Winner.
The board set Saturday, Oct. 31 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., for trick-or-treating throughout the city.
