The long-awaited sewer project in Fayette is now underway. The Fayette City Council granted unanimous approval to an agreement between the city and Missouri Public Utilities Commission and authorized a bond ordinance during a meeting on Wednesday, July 21.

Shortly thereafter, a pre-construction hearing was held between members of the city, Ryan Construction, MECO Engineering, USDA Rural Development, and the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission. 

Mayor Kevin Oeth signed a contract. Ryan Construction gave the notice to proceed beginning Thursday, July 22.

Construction is to last 270 days with a completion date of April 28, 2022.

The $5,566,000 project has been in the works for years. The city secured a grant in the amount of $1.833 million has from the USDA. The city is responsible for $3,233,000, which is funding by the sale of bonds with an interest rate of 1.65%

Preliminary work began on Thursday. The first areas to be affected by construction will likely be those near the Fayette City Park, and the southern portion of town where Highway 240 enters Fayette, according to representatives from Ryan Construction. 

As per the contract, no driveways will be blocked, although many of the sewer lines run below city streets.

“I’m just happy to say that a project Fayette has been waiting on for 16 years is beginning to come to an end,” said Fayette Mayor Kevin Oeth. “Preliminary talks on the sewer project began in 2005 and now in 2021, the actual work will begin in hopes of being completed in April of 2022. It will not be without some headaches as there will be times when sections of streets will be closed but we will be much better off in the end.”