(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has voted to proceed with combining the next two phases of the city’s sanitary system improvement project. 

The Commission made the decision Tuesday evening as they held a public hearing to consider an application for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce  for continuation of the sewer rehabilitation.
   
City Administrator Mike Nichols said representatives from USDA Rural Development asked if the city would consider combining Phase II and III of the sewer project.  Nichols said combining the two phases would provide several benefits including lower percentage of engineering fees, lower interest rate and lower construction unit prices.
   
The Commission is expected to approve a resolution at their September 15th meeting authorizing submittal of the Community Development Block application, which is due September 30th.

The commission also authorized Galen Lay with TREKK Design Group to proceed with updating the preliminary engineering report for the grant application.

The estimated total cost for Phase II and III combined is nearly $2.8, with nearly $1.6 million to come from grant funding. 

The commission also held a hearing to officially close out the $500,000 Community Development Block grant that was awarded for the 1st phase of the sewer improvement project.  During phase I, about 96,000-linear feet of sewer line was replaced and 489 manholes at a total cost of nearly $1.9 million. 

The city is under a consent order from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to reduce the amount of rain and groundwater entering the sanitary sewer system.