By By ANNA M. LEE Managing Editor
The City of Brewton now has the funding to green-light one of its sewerage system improvement projects.
With the announcement from Gov. Bob Riley that the city has been awarded a $447,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Brewton officials can begin the process of replacing sewerage system components in the Lincoln Park area. The project will include renovation of a pumping station, elimination of an outdated pumping station and replacement of deteriorated and damaged sewer lines.
According to city clerk John Angel, the next step will be to have engineers draw up specifications for the project so it can be bid out -- a process that may take two to three weeks.
The City of Brewton's cost for the improvements will be $120,000. Temporary repairs in the area have already cost the city $80,000 over the last six years.
About 160 people live in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, which has had to deal with sewage backing up into homes and collecting in yards and ditches because of the damaged pipes.
Gov. Riley also announced this week that the Escambia County Commission has been awarded a $400,000 CDBG that will allow the county to provide sewerage service to 40 households north of Atmore, affecting 124 residents.
This will be the third phase of the county's effort to provide sewerage service for rural residents.
With local matching funds of $40,000 the sewerage expansion will include 5,000 feet of pipe and 17 manholes.
Flomaton was also awarded a $400,000 CDBG to improve sewerage service for 158 of its residents.
Flomaton's sewerage lines are 75 years old and have deteriorated to the point that sewage is backing up into buildings and causing streets to collapse. To alleviate the problem, Flomaton will use this grant -- plus $82, 625 in local funds -- to install a watertight liner in pipes and repair manholes.
Each of these grants is awarded from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will be administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.