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Springfield sewer work almost done
0412 cribbs 1
Justin Cribbs takes the oath of office from Judge Ed Reddick after he won a special election to fill the Springfield City Council seat vacated by Troy Allen. Cribbs election gives the council a full membership for the first time since October, when Jeff Ambrose resigned. This is the first time in a long time weve had a full board, and it does feel nice, Mayor Barton Alderman said. Im glad to have Justin Cribbs and Katherine Pridgeon up here. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

Work on a long-awaited sewage improvement project in Springfield could be completed soon, city officials said.


The project, funded by a nearly $360,000 community development block grant, is extending the city’s sewer system to nearly 20 homes along South Railroad Avenue. Residents there have had a series of problems with their septic systems and drainage.


“The CDBG appears to be ahead of schedule,” said city public works director Matt Morris.


Morris said all the mains have been tested and passed and the line work has been done. The total cost of the project was $398,000. City council members awarded the bid to McClendon Enterprises in January.


“It’s getting closer,” Springfield Mayor Barton Alderman said of the project’s completion.


Pearl Thomas, a Railroad Avenue resident who pushed for the city’s help with the neighborhood’s sewage problems, thanked City Manager Brett Bennett for his help in the project.


“I’m still excited,” she said. “They are making progress and I think everything is going good. I know it takes patience.”


The city was awarded the grant in August 2011, after a first attempt at securing a CDBG was unsuccessful. Residents along South Railroad Avenue had complained about having to pump out their septic tanks repeatedly. The tanks were prone to filling up with water after heavy rains, and residents would have to do their bathing and laundry before hard rains fell. There was also sewage backup and slow drainage.


“A lot of them had problems with their septic tanks,” Thomas said.