Groundbreaking marks $1.75M Priceville sewer project

PRICEVILLE — City and federal leaders broke ground Tuesday on a $1.75 million sewer upgrade project designed to support growth and relieve pressure on Priceville’s aging infrastructure.

The funds, secured by U.S. Rep. Dale Strong through the House Appropriations Committee, will allow the city to build a sewer pump station and gravity main.

Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin said the project is crucial for the city’s future.

“It’s going to be a pump station and, you know, people don’t think that’s very sexy, but it’s one of those things if you don’t have it, you’re not going to be able to grow,” Heflin said. “This pump station will take the load off a part of the problem we’ve had in the past, and it will allow some new development that’s going to bring in more tax dollars, which will allow us to do more things.”

Heflin noted the project will replace aging infrastructure that has caused sewer overflows while also supporting new growth in the city’s planned downtown area.

“This pump station will take over the service for an assisted living center, two hotels and a subdivision, which will take that off of the Pine Street station where we had the problems,” Heflin said. “It will also allow us to gravity feed a new development across the road — a 60-acre development that will help us not only take care of an aging problem, but also help with growth here in Priceville.”

Strong (R-Huntsville) said the project demonstrates the value of bringing federal resources back to North Alabama communities.

“Today marks the beginning of not just a construction project, but a vital infrastructure upgrade,” Strong said. “It is always great to bring more of your tax dollars back home and to see first-hand the impact it will make. I’ve always said it’s not the state’s money, it’s not the federal government’s money, nor is it local government’s money. It’s the people’s money.”

Construction is expected to take about 12 months, according to Heflin.