Baxter Closer To Sewer Rehab Project Approval

Baxter one step closer to state approval of its sewer rehabilitation project, with permits possible in the next 30 days.

City of Baxter Engineer Tom Bennett told Aldermen the project will renovate the sewer system in 50 sections across the city.

“We will need to have more discussions about where that’s going to be taking place, the impacts, the traffic concerns,” Bennett said. “This is a big project, you know, this will be the largest sewer rehabilitation project this city has undertaken by probably, five-fold.”

Bennett said the final step before construction is getting permits from the state to begin the project. Bennett said he will do what he can to make the process as smooth as possible once the project begins.

“Just a quick reminder we will do what we can to do that with what’s called trenchless technology,” Bennett said.  “So, we can minimize disruption and, in some cases though, or in probably several cases that won’t be possible.”

Bennett said that TDEC is working with the city council to stay aligned with the priority locations of the project.

“We’ve gone through we have looked at where the infiltration is,” Bennett said. “And so, the priorities are based on not necessarily convenience but really more so on where the water is that we are seeing from your previous work efforts.”

Bennett said he is hopeful the construction can begin later this year. He estimates that the project will take 12-15 months to complete.