STARKVILLE — Helene Zuber grew up on Babylon Road.
Aside from a short stint for work in Illinois, she has lived on her property on Babylon Road, a house that has always had a septic tank sewer system — until now.
Residents of the Babylon Road neighborhood will soon join the city’s main sewer system as construction officially broke ground Thursday, something of which Zuber has advocated for many years.
“This is something we have been working for and have finally gotten it,” Zuber said. “It’s a blessing.”
The city received $308,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program to install swerve service for 16 properties along the Babylon Road.
The sewer will flow into the city’s main line with two lift stations being placed along the road, replacing all of the septic tanks in the area.
“The problem with septic tanks is that a lot of them have failed,” Starkville Utilities Department General Manager Terry Kemp said at a press conference on Babylon Road marking the groundbreaking. “It’s just a bad situation. A lot of these septic systems have been out here for years and are no longer functioning, so this would replace that.”
This project has been in the works for more than 20 years with Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins, who as Ward 6 alderman represents the area, continuously lobbying for it.
The city annexed several areas of Oktibbeha County, including the Babylon Road neighborhood, in 1998. Perkins said the city knew when it brought these new sections into Starkville that adjustments and improvements would need to be made, and he is glad after a long, tedious journey this sewer project is finally coming to fruition.
“We kept in focus that we were going to make this project a reality,” Perkins said. “We never lost focus. We kept our complete attention. We, as a team, worked diligently, loyally and faithfully to ensure that sewer services were provided to this area.”
The project will amount to a little more than $600,000 with the city matching the $308,000 received from the grant. Perkins said funding was the main obstacle in moving this project forward, but with the help of Phyllis Benson and the Golden Triangle Planning Development District, the city found the resources necessary to finance the sewer system.
After Mayor Lynn Spruill met with residents of Babylon Road to gain input on their opinions regarding sewer in the area, the board accepted a bid from Box Construction, who will oversee the development of the project. Completion should be before the end of the year, Perkins said.
Perkins said Thursday represented a “golden leaf” in Starkville history because he knows the city is working to provide these residents a better quality of life, residents who have been patient and are now finally equipped with a sufficient sewer system.
“(The residents) know that it’s better late than never,” Perkins said. “… We’re so thankful that the residents (that live on Babylon Road) are a part of our city. They have been so responsive and so cooperative.”
Resident Leonard Hudson said this new system will be life-changing, not only for him but for all those that decide to live on Babylon Road in the future.
“I’ve got kids and grandkids,” Hudson said. “If they want to move here, they will have a sewer system in place. Our current sewer ran in the back of our house. If someone wants to put a development out here, that’s not going to work because your sewer would be on someone else’s property. This is the ideal thing.”
Spruill said she is excited for the completion of this project because she has seen the continuous perseverance of Perkins and the residents.
“This is a difference maker for the entire community,” Spruill said. “It is long overdue. It will bring development and progress to the area. I think it will have repercussions that are yet to be determined.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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