City seeking $500,000 grant

The City of Union is looking to undertake a total of more than a million dollars worth of infrastructure projects including streetscape improvements within the city itself and sewer system improvements in the Buffalo Mill Village.

Streetscape Improvements

During its September meeting Tuesday evening, Union City Council voted unanimously to approve a recommendation that the city provide a local match for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant.

The recommendation was presented by City of Union Utility Director Joe Nichols and Catawba Regional Council of Governments Senior Planner Robby Moody.

The recommendation presented by Nichols and Moody states that the city is in the process of applying for the CDBG funds through the SC Department of Commerce’s Community Enrichment Program. If approved, the CDBG funds will be used along with the local match to finance streetscape improvements on North Pinckney Street, North Gadberry Street, and a one block section of Academy Street. The recommendation states that these areas are “primary arteries that serve Main Street” explaining that the proposed improvements are “necessary to enhance the entrance into the City.”

The recommendation states that the proposed improvements will cost an estimated $558,705.

The resolution approved by council states that the cost of the project ($58,705) not covered by the CDBG funds will be covered with local funds.

Sewer Improvements

Council also voted unanimously to award the bid for Phase IV of sewer system improvements in the Buffalo Mill Village to Smith Backhoe & Construction of Union for $539,616.

The award of the bid was recommended by Nichols who said that the project will be partly funded with a $350,000 grant from the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority.

The project will involve the installation of approximately 3,535 linear feet of eight inch gravity sewer lines and manholes.

The improvements will be made to the sewer system on Church Street, Standpipe Lane, Cross Street, Haywood Street, Flat Drive, Gin Circle, and South Street in the Buffalo Mill Village.

By Charles Warner, Staff Reporter with The Union Daily Times