The West Augustine sewer line dilemma

Local news reporters learned from Chief Operations Officer John Regan at Monday night’s commission meeting that providing sewer lines throughout West Augustine is a $21.5 million project.

Under questioning by Vice Mayor Errol Jones, Regan told commissioners that efforts are under way on several fronts to meet commitments in a city and county agreement to provide the utilities critical to West Augustine’s growth.

Among them: a funding application for a necessary force main on West King Street, a gravity line connection with county sewer lines in the Duval Street area, and expansion of the city’s utility service in the Holmes Boulevard area.

Regan said the city is negotiating with the county on the Holmes Boulevard expansion, which would make investment practical for sewer line extension.

A planned residential development in that area would support the extended service, he said.