Skip to content
Skip to Content

Long debated Columbia sewer extension project returns for public discussion

0:00/ 0:00LIVEQuality1  AudioSubtitleSpeedNormal  

COLUMBIA. Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia Sewer Utility is hosting an interested parties meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposed Henderson Branch Sewer Extension to the Midway area.

After years of debate and multiple failed attempts, the City of Columbia is once again attempting to expand its sewer system. 

On Wednesday, Columbia Sewer Utility hosted an interested parties meeting to discuss the proposed Henderson Branch Sewer Extension to the Midway area. 

The project would include building 8,600 feet of sewer pipe that would be available for nearby properties to connect to the City’s public sanitary sewer. However, only people who chose to connect to the sewer would be charged. It would also remove a pair of private treatment facilities that are discharging into Henderson Branch and Perche Creek. 

“Forgive me for being gross but it's sewage going into our water,” Matt Nestor of Columbia Utilities said. “If we can connect these areas to the public sewer,  then we know what's going to the treatment plant.  That's public health. That's environmental safety  that we're taking care of.” 

The project has been heavily debated over the last decade. In 2013 Columbia voters approved millions of dollars in borrowed money to improve the city's sewer service. One of the projects on the list included the Henderson Branch. 

The project was delayed in 2016 due to rising costs.  The initial estimated budget for the project was $2.6 million which spiked to $4.3 million in 2016. Then in  2018, the city council voted 4-3 against the extension to the Henderson Branch sewer line. A majority vote was needed to approve the project.  One council member who voted in favor of the project includes current Ward 6 councilwoman Betsy Peters. 

“We've been working a lot in the last 12 years.  We've done a lot of rehabilitation on sewer pipes,” Nestor said. “We've eliminated a lot of the backups, the overflows, that kind of thing that the people were more concerned about in the past. Now that we've got those cleaned up, we believe the operations and maintenance of the new sewer line are feasible. So we decided to revisit this.” 

The current proposal is estimated to cost between $4.5- $5 million. Funding options would include selling the city’s remaining bonds. There is roughly $5.7 million available in bonds. Other options would include using enterprise revenue or landowner contributions. 

Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman has been a large proponent of improving the city's infrastructure. After going over a presentation from the city in July, he believes that the Henderson Branch Extension will help with the city’s growth

“Your sewer systems are is infrastructure, as much infrastructure as water lines and streets and water towers.  It's all infrastructure, which we need to help Columbia grow,” Waterman said. “I've said all along that Columbia is the fourth largest city in Missouri. We're growing. So we need now to keep that moving forward.”

The city still needs to survey the area to find out which property owners will allow them to build and where. Even if the plan is approved that layout could still change depending on what feedback the city gets from MoDOT. MoDOT will have crews working on the I-70 expansion project around one of the areas that the proposed extension would run through. 

Public feedback from Wednesday night’s meeting will be submitted to the city council in the coming days.  If the project is approved by the council,  sewer installation will begin in 2027.

Article Topic Follows: Columbia

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

Mitchell Kaminski

Mitchell Kaminski is from Wheaton, Illinois. He earned a degree in sports communication and journalism from Bradley University. He has done radio play-by-play and co-hosts a Chicago White Sox podcast.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.