SALUDA – The Saluda Board of Commissioners decided to spend extra money and replace a water line before resurfacing Chisholm Street.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Sept. 11 and approved adding an additional $15,000 to the project to replace an aged water line. The asphalt is estimated to cost $16,000-$17,000 for a total project of up to $32,000.

Commissioners were discussing recent work done on downtown sidewalks when an audience member mentioned the needs on Chisholm Street.

Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden said the city has approximately 10 miles of streets and Saluda gets approximately $33,000 from state Powell Bill funding for the maintenance of those streets annually.

Commissioner Leon Morgan said the problem with the streets in Saluda is that they have been patched for years because the city hasn’t had the money to replace them.

“We’re just doing the best we can,” Morgan said.

This fiscal year Saluda has made a list of streets to be repaired, with some already beginning resurfacing.

City manager Jonathan Cannon said Chisholm Street has a six-inch cast iron water line underneath. He said the city doesn’t know the exact age of the water line but it is very old and is prone to leaks. Cannon also said the road only has one fire hydrant, which is also very old as well as old water taps.

The contractor expects the overlay on the asphalt will last 20 years, Cannon said. So city staff feels like the old water line won’t last that long, according to Cannon.

“So that begs the question,” said Cannon, “do we overlay and not fix the water line?”

The parts to replace the water line are estimated between $10,00-$11,000, with Cannon saying the city’s backhoe is not an effective way to excavate. Cannon said by contracting the excavation, he expects replacing the water line to cost $15,000.

“That puts us halfway for the money we have available,” said Cannon. “I hate to put asphalt down without fixing the water line underneath.”

The new water line would be plastic, with Cannon saying it would have a 50-year lifespan.

Commissioner Stan Walker said his thoughts are to go ahead and replace the water line before laying asphalt.

“You’d be spending money patching and fixing,” Walker said.

Cannon said the city could start the project at the first of October. He also said residents need to be aware no one would be able to drive up the street during construction.