It will cost just over $1 million to upgrade sewer lines in the Monarch Mill area and the City of Union will contribute at least $350,000 to help cover the cost of the project.

At its March meeting Tuesday evening, Union City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution allocating at least $350,000 to serve as the local 10 percent match for a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant Union County is applying for. The funds will be used to pay for Phase III of the Monarch Mill Area Sewer Upgrade. The upgrade is projected to cost $1,007,720.

In its motion, council also authorized the allocation of any additional funds required for the completion of the project.

The report presented to council at Tuesday’s meeting states that the city has determined that the sewer lines in the Monarch Mill area have reached the end of their lifespan and need to be upgraded to meet modern standards and reduce infiltration into the system.

The involvement of both the city and the county in the project stems from the fact that the affected area is located in the county, but the city is the provider of sewer service to the area. Because it is the provider of sewer service to the area, the report states the city will benefit from the upgrade.

The report states the county intends to make an application for $750,000 in CDBG funding through the Community Infrastructure Program that will be used to help the city pay for the cost of the upgrade. It states that a minimum 10 percent local match is required for the grant which would be provided by the city.

The project, which will involve the construction of 3,582, linear feet of 8-inch sewer line and 19 manholes in the Monarch Mill area, will benefit 64 residences and three churches.

The area covered by the project includes the:

• Alley between Mill Street and Fairmont Street

• Alley between Monarch Highway and Mill Street off of Teague Avenue

• Alley between Monarch Highway and Mill Street off Fairmont Street

• Sewer between Johns Street and Haas Street

• Arthur Street

• Walker Street

• Park Street

By Charles Warner, Staff Reporter with The Union Times