It looks like

it's going to be a busy summer in Senoia.

The City Council

gave approval Monday night to the bids for the city's sewer system, which

could see up to four construction companies working in the city this year.

The total price

for the system is $8.5 million, which is $2 million more than the city

expected when it estimated the price two years ago.

City engineer

Ben Turnipseed explained the nearly two-year delay in getting the project

to the bid status, plus the increased costs of fuel had increased the

price.

The price also

increased because the city is upping the capacity at the treatment plant

from 70,000 gallons a day to 490,000 gallons a day to cover the city's

growth over the next few years.

The city has

$6.6 million in funding secured for the project, so he explained an additional

$1.9 million would need to be secured from Rural Development to fund the

project.

The agency

has just started its budget for this year, so Turnipseed did not see and

problems in obtaining the additional monies.

Once the funding

is secured, Turnipseed said the city would issue revenue bonds to cover

the project. With additional building projects already on the drawing

board, the additional costs would be covered, he added.

The revenue

bonds will be issued for 40 years, Turnipseed said.

Turnipseed

said construction could start in three months and the timeline for finishing

the project is one year.

The City Council

approved the bids by a unanimous vote.

"It's

been a long time coming," said Councilman Robert Hannah.