Although a change in plans has caused a long delay, it appears Oronogo is still better off than on its current path toward a major sewer system improvements.

Tony Cantrell, superintendent of public works, told the Board of Aldermen Monday that the total estimated cost for the new plan has reached $2.9 million.

In September 2020, the board refused to contract with Rosetta Construction in the amount of $3,287,270 to complete the project under the initial design. It was the only bid received for the project, which had been estimated by Olsson engineers to cost $1,845,000. The problem was that the first design required digging the line 30 feet deep.

Allgeier Martin and Associates is expected to present the new design to the board in May and be ready to go to bid this summer.

The $2.9 million price tag mentioned by Cantrell includes construction of a larger sewer main between Central Street and Ivy Road that wasn’t included as part of the first bid.

Voters approved a $2 million bond issue in 2016 to improve the sewer system, which is needed because of the (re-ignited) housing boom in Oronogo.

City Clerk Cyndi Jennings reported that 21 building permits have been submitted so far within the first phase of the Greystone II development. Construction is expected to begin in July. In the meantime, sanitary sewer and stormwater lines are being installed, along with natural gas lines for the city’s municipal natural gas system.

Cantrell has stated that the current 8-inch sewer main between Central Street and Ivy Road could handle only 98 more houses. It will be replaced by a 12-inch line.

No building permits have been issued yet for the Hawthorn Hills development (north of Jason Place), which is platted with more than 500 lots. Those houses will be hooked up to a different existing sewer main than the one being expanded for Greystone and other developments on the east side of town.