The Uniontown city council will have plenty to consider during their next meeting on Monday, Aug. 4.

Mayor Jamaal Hunter said officials from Sentell Engineering and EOS Engineering will present options to the council for resolving the ongoing wastewater treatment issues.

Hunter met with officials from Sentell in early July and others from EOS on Wednesday.

“Both meetings were very productive,” Hunter said. “Each firm presented some very good information and alternatives. The plans weren’t identical, but they were similar. I think the differences are good for us going forward. It will help us in finding the best option.”

Hunter said both engineering firms presented options which would involve either pumping the city’s treated wastewater to a nearby river, or building a new secondary hold-and-release treatment facility in the city.

“The whole council hasn’t been briefed on these options, so I’d rather not discuss the particulars of the options just yet,” Hunter said. “But they were very productive meetings, and I think we are on the right road to getting the issue resolved.”

Hunter said he and the council would carefully consider each option and costs when selecting the option.

“Funding is the most important thing to consider here,” Hunter said. “We need to get the funds to complete whichever option we choose, but the council will move slowly and pick the option that will completely resolve this issue.”

Uniontown resident Ben Eaton, vice president of the Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice, said regardless of which option, he hopes community leaders seek outside help as the work moves forward.

“They need to consider having another contractor to review what is going on,” Eaton said. “They need to consider having a project manager, because there is no way they can get this project done without a project manager.”