JACKSONVILLE —
Bullard is inching closer to expansion of it’s sewer plant.
“The sewer plant is the priority for us,” said Bullard City Council Member Jay Abercrombie. “Bullard’s grown and we’re at capacity with our water, we’re at capacity with our sewer. The water’s taken care of, we’ve dealt with that, everything’s good. The sewer plant is at capacity and so we have to add to it, have to make it bigger because of all the new businesses, residents and everyone that’s coming in. It’s something that we’re behind on as far as construction and it’s something we’re trying to catch up on.”
The engineering company Bucher, Willis & Ratliff will design the project.
The estimated $1.6 million expansion is slated for completion in April, Abercrombie said, but the city council must first review options for borrowing money for the expansion.
“Getting the $1.2 [or] $1.5 million, we’re shopping rates right now,” he said. “We’re at the stage of trying to lock down some money and get the best bond rate to get the funds to make the project happen.”
The bond will not pay for the expansion entirely, said Bullard Mayor Teresa Adams-Wilks, but the city has a back-up plan.
“We have some money from a previous project that we’ll put on that as well,” she said.
The sewer plant expansion has been in the planning stage for about three years, Abercrombie said.
“It’s been a long draw out process,” he said. “You’re dealing with state agencies to approve and everyone has to line up, so it’s just been a process.”
Bullard has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years, said City Council Member Larry Morgan.
“We’ve added probably about 60 water meters in the last 5 years,” Morgan said. “That sewer plant extension will take care of our normal growth patterns for the next 20 years.”
The expansion will ensure that the sewer plant can sustain continued growth, Adams-Wilks said.
“Having this add-on is not just specific for growth that has happened. One, it is to accommodate the citizens we have now but, also, expecting that there will be future growth for our city,” she said. “Home building is starting to pick up so there are families that are starting to move out to this area so we want to accommodate for existing citizens while being able to provide for growth.”
At Bullards next city council meeting, Feb. 21, the bond for the expansion will be discussed.
“Hopefully the numbers will come back to us so we can decide on what term and what amount we want to go after as far as the bond,” Abercrombie said, “and get that approved and move forward.”
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Related Photos
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Council Member Shirley Coe, Mayor Teresa Adams-Wilks and Council Member Pam Frederick examine agendas at Tuesday night’s Bullard City Council meeting. Progress photo by Meagan O’Toole-Pitts
Discussion
Bullard to expand sewer plant
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