LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore says he intends to address the city's sewer and flooding concerns without raising sewer rates or imposing new taxes, and without constructing a canal.
He says building a $30.8 million interceptor pipe under Market Street from Graham to Mulberry will fix illegal sewer water overflow into the Ohio River without raising sewer rates or creating new taxes.
Former Mayor Tom Galligan had proposed the canal as a way to help alleviate flooding, but Galligan's administration also wanted to develop it as a focus for re-development, with hotels, shops, and restaurants. But Thursday, Mayor Moore said, "Unlike the prior administration, I do not support higher sewer rates and property taxes to pay for the canal. And I certainly opposed the idea of imposing a new restaurant and beverage tax to foot the bill."
The pumping station will expand to triple its capacity and channel water to the city's wastewater treatment plant. A retention pond will be built in a new park across the street.
Mayor Moore also pointed out that many projects the Environmental Protection Agency has required have been completed, while others are in progress. "While these improvements may not solve all of the flooding," the mayor said, "they will result in significant improvements."
"As we move forward, we must avoid at all costs placing an undue financial burden on our citizens with higher sewer bills and taxes," said Moore.
The mayor will host a public forum on the issue next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
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