Metro Lex News

The city of Lexington is seeking an extension to complete court-ordered improvements to its sanitary sewer system, with the proposed deadline extension being discussed among concerned parties. Initially ordered in 2011 to comply with the federal Clean Water Act, the city has been negotiating to extend the original deadline of 2026 to 2030 due to various challenges.

Charles Martin, the Director of the city's Division of Water Quality, highlighted that "supply chain issues stemming from the pandemic and labor shortages have slowed progress." He also mentioned that "we have expanded the scope of some projects to improve the operation of the sanitary sewers."

The proposal for the deadline extension is set to be reviewed by the Council on March 21, with final approval anticipated from state and federal authorities. The extension would provide the city with an additional four years to complete the necessary sanitary sewer projects.

Currently, 75 sanitary sewer projects have been finished, and there are 41 projects that need to be completed by the proposed new deadline. It is noted that stormwater obligations under the original agreement were fulfilled in 2021.

In addition to the sewer projects, the City of Lexington is actively promoting initiatives like Solarize Lexington, encouraging solar panel installations for residents to reduce energy costs. Furthermore, the Lexington's Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program is open for applications to fund projects that enhance stormwater runoff management.

The city continues to work towards meeting its environmental obligations while addressing the challenges posed by the aging infrastructure and external factors affecting project timelines.