TIFTON — The City of Tifton has been awarded a $500,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the state’s Community Development Block Grant Program. The funds will be matched with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue to make sewer improvements to the wastewater system in south Tifton. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $1.2 million.

City utilities director Russ Dorman asked the Tifton City Council in June to authorize Mike Vollmer, the city’s manager, to contract with a grant writer and a civil engineer to complete the grant application for the rehabilitation and improvement of the “Southside Trunk Line” wastewater system.

According to Watkins & Associates, L.L.C., that company and Bob Roberson and Associates, Inc. prepared a grant application for the CDBG program. The grant and local funding will pay for the replacement of 10,100 linear feet of sewer lines and all manholes in the target area, which consist of a trunk line running from north of Duggan Street to a pump station located on Golden Road. The remaining portion of the project connects to this trunk line and is located along South Central Avenue on the north side of I-75.

A trunk line is a major sewage collection line that is fed by many smaller lines from a larger area. The current sewer lines in the area range from 8” to 24” and the existing pipe system is mostly made of vitrified clay pipe that was installed approximately 50 years ago. Vitrified clay pipes become corroded or collapse when roots intrude and the joints of the pipes separate. This allows for inflow and infiltration of the pipes. Sewage can leach into the surrounding ground and groundwater can flow into and inundate the pipes during wet weather conditions. Solids can build up within the pipes and cause clogs and backups. With a backup, sewage can overflow at manholes and possibly into area homes.

The project has a two-year timeline from the time of the grant award until the project is constructed and closed out.

The CDBG program provides a financial resource to smaller Georgia communities to fund projects that assist low to moderate-income people. Nearly $35.7 million is currently being allocated for CDBG awards that will be used to support the funding of projects in 75 Georgia communities. Projects include water and sewer improvements, senior citizen facilities, health facilities, domestic violence centers, street and drainage improvements and replacement or rehabilitation of sub-standard and dilapidated housing.

Other nearby communities that were awarded CDBG funding include:

• Ben Hill County, water improvements, $353,164.

• Colquitt County, drainage and street improvements, $500,000.

• Cook County, drainage improvements, $500,000.

• Crisp County, drainage/street improvements, $500,000.

• Irwin County, drainage/street improvements, $500,000.

• City of Lenox, sewer improvements, $195,272.

• City of Norman Park, water improvements, $383,583.



To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.