By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
JASPER, Tenn. — Over the past year, city administrators have initiated inspections of Jasper’s sewer system in an attempt to more clearly identify problems they knew needed to be addressed.
Gary Cosby of CTI Engineers Inc. said the results show about 10 percent of the town’s sewer lines need work.
“In the course of the inspections we’ve done, we’ve found some problems in the sewers that need to be taken care of,” he said. “Some are fairly serious as far as leakage and blockage.”
Cosby said at least 50 of Jasper’s nearly 500 manhole covers need work, as well as parts of the actual sewer line.
“There’s about 2,500 feet of pipe that we’ve identified that needs some serious attention,” he said. “In some cases, some of that pipe may even have to be replaced. The rest we may be able to take care of with relining or spot repairs.”
Last week, the Jasper Board of Mayor and Alderman voted to sign a contract with CTI Engineers Inc. to put together a rehabilitation plan.
Cosby said the plan will cover all the necessary engineering work.
“It’s to put together the rehab project, including the drawings and specifications,” he said. “We’ll get all that approved by TDEC, do all the bidding, and then oversee the construction, the contract administration and inspection.”
Alderman Paul Evans, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said he wanted more information before moving forward.
“I’d like to see a list of streets,” he said. “I’d like to see some of the damage that’s in there before I make a decision to spend over $34,000 [on the engineering services]. … I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. We need to determine what areas need to be addressed first.”
Officials said the entire project will cost an estimated $150,000 to $175,000, but they know it will have to be completed in phases.
“I totally agree that we need to do the worst parts first,” Jasper Mayor Billy Simpson said. “We needed to sign this contract, because we’re going to have to do the work anyway. Then we can look at everything that’s going on so we can select what we think are the most important [problems] to start with going forward.”
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.