Tryon could have some help in fixing an overflowing sewer line along East Howard Street.
Council met Tuesday, Jan. 17 and approved applying for an infrastructure grant through the state’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The grant is for a maximum of $750,000 with a five percent match, or up to $37,500 from the town.
Tryon officials have been discussing the need to replace the trunk line that runs along East Howard Street to the town’s sewer plant after an inflow and infiltration (I&I) study determined problems in the area. Some residents have had problems for years with manholes in the area overflowing with sewage during heavy rain events. The town was fined $7,000 by the state for those overflows in 2009.
The grant would help the town replace the 16-inch line with a 24-inch line.
Engineer Jonathan Hollifield told council last week that the amount of rainwater coming into the system is overwhelming to the current trunk link.
“We’ve got areas that the pipe is standing half full,” said Hollifield. “This would replace the 16-inch line with a 24-inch line, which would also give future capacity as well.”
Hollifield added that the main problem is located upstream and there are problems throughout the system, but this replacement would alleviate all the overflows that the town currently has.
Council approved applying for the grant and must first send a letter of intent to the state.
CDBG funds are provided to the state by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They are administered at the state level by the N.C. Department of Commerce through the Division of Community Investment and the Commerce Finance Center.
The Isothermal Planning and Development Commission assists the town in applying for CDBG grant funding.