Missouri city council approves sewer improvement funds

The Columbia City Council has approved a bill to fund approximately $2.3m to improve sanitary sewers in the downtown area.

The funding will mainly come from the city’s Public Works Department’s fund balance, while approximately $150,000 will be contributed by the student housing developer Collegiate Housing Partners.

This fund is a portion of $5.7m in planned improvements to downtown sewers. The council intends to provide an additional $2m by postponing sewer projects elsewhere. It will also provide another $1.4 in the 2015 fiscal year budget, which begins in October.

First Ward Councilwoman Ginny Chadwick told Columbia Daily Tribune that increased sewer capacity will help the city achieve its goal of encouraging more central development.

"We want to make sure we have the capacity to do so," she said.

The design and construction of the sewer projects is expected to take around two years.