Ferris infrastructure makeover planned

FERRIS – In any growing city you have growing pains.

The City of Ferris is no different.  

Last week there was a growing pain that translated into a small sink hole in the alley of 5th and Baker. 

Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams said, “That is a strong sign that there is a broken pipe.” So the city investigated and discovered indeed there was a problem.

“When we exposed the sewer pipes, the clay line had disintegrated and had to be replaced,” he explained. 

“Upon beginning to replace that portion of the pipe, more pipe began to fail. We ended up having to replace almost 25-feet of pipe.”

The infrastructure work began several months ago, and portions are even included in the revenue bond the city passed earlier this year. 

However, in growing municipalities like Ferris aging infrastructure is not unusual.

Williams said the city needs a plan in place to alleviate infrastructure problems like this in the future.

“Where we haven’t done well is in having a Comprehensive Maintenance Plan in place that addresses deficiencies in that system,” he explained. 

“This includes water, sewer, and streets. Right now, our focus is on stabilizing our water system and getting ahead of our failing sewer system.”     

Williams said there will be further projects added and a second bond required in the future. 

After all, some of the pipes have been in the ground for 50-plus years.

Last week it was the work done at 5th and Baker, but under the railroad near 1st and Central work has also previously been done there too.

Infrastructure in the city is a Ferris priority now, and Williams said it is the  “top priority.”

“Almost every sewer line in the central part of Ferris – downtown and surrounding residential – is clay tile and needs to be replaced,” he explained.

The cost to replace or repair the aging pipes that currently need an overhaul is $6 to $8-milion for water and sewer. 

“To improve every street and corresponding drainage would be approximately $20-million,” Williams added.

While no one thinks the job of replacing city water and sewer lines are glamorous, it is indeed a much-needed improvement.

“This is not a fun or glamorous part of ensuring the city is positioned to support the current residents and future growth, but it is absolutely necessary,” Williams concluded.

“We are committed to not only executing a Comprehensive Improvement Plan, but also having a Comprehensive Maintenance Plan moving forward so that we are never in this situation again.

“We (the City) should not have allowed for our infrastructure to get to a place where it all needed to replaced at the same time.”