The city’s governing body proved Monday plans for an 86-acre

residential and commercial development did not die with the previous

administration.

The city council listened to a proposal about a wastewater treatment plant

from an engineer with ADL Engineering based in Fort Payne and Prattville.

The development is several years away, council members said, but they all

agreed building a decentralized treatment plant is a necessary first step

for the project to continue.

“With the development of this master plan, the paramount thing is wastewater

treatment. You’ve got to have a way to get all these communities’ wastewater

treated and handled and out of there,” said engineer Will Barrett. “Septic

tanks aren’t the way to go because of the density you’re trying to achieve.”

The development is located adjacent to the city park and walking trail on

County Road 16. More than 19 acres of commercial and office space are

planned, as well as almost 28 acres of residential space. The site of the

treatment plant is proposed on a nine-acre wooded lot on the northwest

corner of the development.

Plans for the project were initiated before the Aug. 26 election.

Part of Barrett’s presentation was to assure residents they would not have

to worry about typical problems associated with wastewater treatment plants.

Smell was the chief concern.

The city has yet to decide what type of plant it wants. It was initially

planned for a flow of 15,000 gallons per day. Barrett said construction cost

of a plant that size is usually estimated at $7 to $10 per gallon, meaning a

possible range of $105,000 to $150,000.

The estimate also will depend on a study by the Alabama Department of

Environmental Management that will determine contaminants in the area.

Valley Grande Mayor Tom Lee said the city council wants the plant to be

engineered so that outlying areas have the option of tapping into its

capacity.