City Of Inola Makes Plans To Improve Sewer System

A multi-million dollar project is in the works to improve Inola's sewer system.

Some of the infrastructure dates back to the 1960s and city leaders say the upgrades are needed because of strains on the current system. Mayor Larry Grigg says at the sewer plant they run about 250,000 gallons of water a day, but during heavy rain it can run up to several million gallons.

As a part of ongoing projects, the city plans to upgrade sewer lines in the middle of town in a half-mile radius and replace the clay tile pipes. Inola is also building new lines and pumps to transfer sewage, which will be sent to the Port of Inola in a few years. Inola recently received $10 million from ARPA to fund the project. Cherokee and Muscogee Nations also awarded Inola with $500,000 in grant money. Long term the city estimates they'll need to get an additional 8 million dollars to complete the entire project.

"We're going to be applying for grants hopefully we survive on sales tax we but also we could with new plants going in out there start drawing some ad valorem tax," said Grigg.

The city plans to start replacing lines in about a year.