During their regularly scheduled work session prior to the Monday, Dec. 9 meeting, all five members of the Athens City Council heard from city engineer Michael Griffin regarding a preliminary capital project to improve infrastructure near Strain Road.

Griffin’s project presentation at the council’s chamber in Athens City Hall focused heavily on a multi-phase plan involving both drainage and sewer services. He also noted that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has committed assistance for the preliminary design services, both verbally and written.

“What we decided to do was break the project into smaller components that can be started at different times, allowing us to get to it a little faster,” Griffin said. “We wanted to verify that we did have some assistance with this — and we will.”

For several years, the communities on West and East Strain Road — separated by 1-65 in southeast Athens — have been plagued with severe flooding during heavy rainfall.

“This is an issue that needs to be dealt with,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks told The News Courier after the meeting concluded. “I think we are finally making some good progress on it. I think until we address the drainage problem there, we won’t know the full extent of the septic tank issues there.”

Phase I of the project will deal with the drainage on the western side of Strain Road, while Phase II will handle drainage on the eastern side. Phases III and IV are for the same sides of Strain Road, but for sewer services — in order of priority.

According to Griffin’s presentation, all plans and bids are to be set by Spring 2025 to commence work on the West Strain Road drainage basin. By the Summer of 2025, the goal is to have all plans and bids set to begin work on East Strain Road.

“What we are proposing to do with this first phase is to replace those three locations with appropriately sized culverts,” Griffin said. “We will have to approach those property owners to do work on their property, if they work with us. If they do, we can increase the capacity of that ditch to alleviate some of the flooding and drainage on that side.”

Water Services Capital Project Manager David Maher also spoke during Griffin’s presentation, highlighting the four septic systems on the westside of Strain Road and 20 septic systems on the east side. There are 110 total septic systems in the surrounding areas that Maher said he hopes to swap over to sewer systems for people in need.

“The next measure will be a formal application to move forward with what we are proposing, which we expect to do so in the next quarter,” Maher said. “We are going to be looking at the westside to follow up with sewer issues, that’s what the study will be for the next six months. Then we will come up with plans and apply for funds.”

Following the capital project presentation, the council unanimously voted in favor of two resolutions that approved an agreement with Krebs Engineering, Inc., for sewer rehabilitation support and preliminary engineering services for the preparation and plans for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to initiate the project.

“I think this is a great start,” council president James Lucas, who also represents the district in which Strain Road is in, said. “This will not happen overnight, but it’s great to get started to offer some relief to those residents.”