BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas — After over a decade of planning, the City of Bruceville-Eddy has been approved for a sanitary sewer system.
The City announced on Thursday, July 25 that the City Council had given the green light on the project, which has reportedly been in planning since 2008.
The City said the approval comes after years of "diligent planning and collaboration between city officials, engineers, community stakeholders and federal agencies".
Up to now, the City says the Bruceville-Eddy community has relied on on-site solutions for wastewater treatment, with many of those systems now falling into "a state of ill repair", costing homeowners and businesses money for repairs.
The City said the sewer system is a "crucial step forward" in improving infrastructure and environmental sustainability in the community, and will provide a "public good" for decades to come.
The project reportedly has a construction budget of just under $20 million and will be financed through a combination of $9,475,000 in loans and $8,870,000 in grants, according to the City.
The City said it has been working with the USDA Rural Development Office to get the money since 2017, though setbacks like the pandemic and property rights acquisitions caused delays.
One of the most significant costs of the project was providing customer "hookups" to sewer mainlines, said the City, which was a non-negotiable for the City Council.
"We are delighted to see this project move forward after years of hard work and dedication," said Mayor Linda Owens. "I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the City Council and our citizens for their unwavering support, perseverance and patience throughout this extensive planning and funding process."
The anticipated timeline for the construction of the new sewer system is approximately one year after loan closing, which is expected to occur in the late Summer or early Fall of 2024, said the City.
The City said residents will likely see a "frenzy of activity" across the community during the construction period, and are asked to remain patient as the improvements are made.
An informational session is reportedly being planned for the Fall after preconstruction meetings to address questions and concerns from citizens.
"While we are excited about the benefits this new sewer system will bring to our city, we recognize that construction may cause temporary inconveniences," added Owens. "We appreciate the understanding of our citizens as we work diligently to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition throughout the construction phase."
“We understand that our citizens and business community have a lot of outstanding questions regarding the implementation of this massive project," said City Administrator Kent Manton. "To help ease our growing pains, we will strive to provide effective communication to our community throughout the construction phase".
For more information and updates on the new sewer system project, residents are encouraged to sign-up for the Savvy Citizen App or visit the city's official website at https://www.bruceville-eddy.us.
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