The City of Georgetown will spend up to $1.9 million erecting a new water tower in Maryville and repairing manholes if an ordinance gets second reading approval next month.

Last week, council gave first reading approval to the application for two loans from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund.

One loan would be in the amount of $630,750 for the manhole rehabilitation. The water tower loan would be in the amount of $1.3 million.

Council unanimously approved the manhole loan while Councilman Rudolph Bradley voted “no” to the water tank loan. Councilmember Clarence Smalls was absent from Thursday’s meeting.

According to a memo to city council, the manhole work is phase one of sewer rehabilitation that will take place in the Historic District.

The project list calls for 20 manhole replacements and 180 manhole liners to be installed.

Salt water has been seeping in at high tides and heavy rains and must be treated at the waste water plant.

The new water tank in Maryville, which will be placed on the city-owned property that was the former site of Eagle Electric, is needed to help increase water pressure in that part of the city.

The city still has the problem with the now-empty water tank next to City Hall to deal with at some point.

Testing has indicated there are “voids” underneath the ground below the tank.

One option is to replace that tank at a different location. That project is not included in the loan requests that will be made if the ordinance receives final approval.

Ben Cooper Park

 Council agreed unanimously to spend up to $110,000 for phase one of renovations to Ben Cooper Park located at 2134 Prince Street in the city’s west end.

The plan calls for entering into an agreement with General Recreation, Inc. for an aquatic playground which will include various water-spraying attractions.

If council decides to proceed to the other two phases of the project, at a cost of $80,000, it will mean even more water attractions will be added.

However, Councilman Brendon Barber said council may decide to only do one phase and use the money for other improvements to the park such as picnic areas and grilling locations.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com