February 24, 2022
Starkville Utilities is preparing to break ground on a new sanitary sewer system to serve residents on Babylon Road in west Starkville.
“We’re excited to launch an infrastructure project designed by our engineering team to serve Babylon Road residents,” said Terry Kemp, general manager of Starkville Utilities. “Transitioning homes to a modern sanitary sewer system will ensure that our customers have access to safe, reliable and affordable services now and well into the future.”
Earlier this year, the City of Starkville announced that it had received $308,000 in funding from the Community Development Block Grant program to implement the sewer project for 16 homes on Babylon Road that currently use septic tanks.
Through a partnership with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, city leaders have worked to secure block grants to fund sewer services for areas annexed into the Starkville city limits in 1998. Located off Garrard Road west of Highway 25, Babylon Road is the third such project funded by the CDBG program.
“This has been a long-awaited improvement for Babylon Road residents, and we have appreciated their patience during the city’s planning and fundraising processes,” said Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. “We’re thankful for our partnership with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District in helping secure the funding required to move forward with this much-needed project.”
The city awarded the Babylon Road construction contract to Box Construction and estimates that the project will be completed by last 2022.
Building new infrastructure in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas can often be cost-prohibitive for smaller municipalities. City leaders plan to continue pursuing grant assistance and other funding avenues to provide sewer systems for the small number of residents in the annexation area who still lack service.
“Investing in infrastructure is part of our Renew Principle commitment to manage our utility systems responsibly and support Starkville’s growth and economic development,” Kemp said. “We will continue working with the city to make sure all residents have access to cost-effective utility services that improve our community’s quality of life.”
Starkville Utilities is a public utility serving 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville, Mississippi as well as Mississippi State University. Its mission is to supply safe, reliable, and cost-effective electric and water service of superior quality and value that improves the lives of its customers.