LEBANON, Tenn. (WSMV) – Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell is pushing for a new sewer plant to be built in the city.
Bell says that this controversial issue has been kicked down the road, but it shouldn’t be kicked any further.
In a statement released on Monday, the mayor said that the current sewer plant is 60 years old and that while technological upgrades have been made, the structure remains outdated.
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“While technological upgrades have been made through the years, the structure is outdated. During this process, we have toured newer facilities with modern designs and more efficient operations,” the mayor said.
“There are a couple of facts about this project. First, it has needed to be built for fifteen years. Second, it must be built along the pipeline that transports treated water from the current sewer plant to the river.”
Bell said that at the March 19 city council work session, multiple properties were discussed as potential locations for the new plant. Those were chosen due to their proximity to the current plant and pipeline.
“This is the due diligence phase of the project. No votes were taken. Staff updated me, along with city council, before speaking with property owners about potential locations,” the mayor said.
“We have worked to improve infrastructure throughout the city. All those projects are important. The construction of a new sewer plant to replace the 60-year-old plant is essential. It has been a fifteen-year process that was avoided, and it should not be avoided any longer.”
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