After identifying the East Howard Street trunk sewer line as one of its largest problem areas with storm water infiltration, the Town of Tryon is applying for a grant to develop a plan for its replacement.
Tryon Town Council agreed Tuesday, Oct. 18 to apply for a N.C. Rural Center grant up to $40,000 to cover the costs of developing the plan. The grant is a 50/50 match, so if approved the town would also contribute up to $40,000 for the project.
Tryon Town Manager Justin Hembree said the plan is needed in order to obtain further grant funding to replace the sewer line.
“The project plan will be for a badly needed sewer trunk line replacement project to address serious sewer system flow issues,” Hembree said. “The engineering plan developed from the planning project will be used to apply for subsequent implementation funding grants.”
Tryon has had major drainage issues along East Howard Street during heavy rains. Residents have suffered sewer back-ups because storm water exceeded the capacity of the system. One resident in particular has suffered for years from sewage running into her yard from a town manhole.
In 2009, the state fined the town $7,000 for violations relating to sewer back-ups in the area. Although the town has made some repairs, town officials say there are still problems and the line needs to be replaced.
The town last year was awarded another rural center grant for an inflow and infiltration (I&I) study, which identified the East Howard trunk line as one of the town’s problem areas.
The grant the town agreed to apply for last week is the next stage in the I&I process and would pay for drawings for replacing the line to the sewer plant, installing  a larger line and a grit chamber.
Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC) will prepare the application, which is due this week.