Sewer Lines Being Installed Along Highway 319

Please be careful out there. I am happy to report some local men are installing sewer lines along Crawfordville Highway from Wal Mart to Bloxham Cutoff. Please be careful as you pass these construction sites.

When I say local workers, please let me explain. The crew I was talking to was composed of men with surnames of Barwick, Glover, Sanders, and Strickland. Any Wakulla County native knows these names. Each of these skilled workers grew up in Wakulla County and attended Wakulla High. I think it is great we are using local folks to install needed infrastructure.

In addition to the trenches shown in the photo, these crews are using directional boring, commonly called horizontal directional drilling, to install underground pipes and conduits under driveways, streets, and wetlands. I was happy to see a wetland having sewer installed several feet under the water and no disturbance to any part of the wetlands or trees and plants near the water. Traditional trenches would have killed several trees and clogged the wetland with silt and mud. The wetland would have taken several years to recover. These Wakulla County men are taking care of the environment we love. Growth and environmental protection can happen simultaneously. Good job, guys.

Directional boring also has many other advantages over traditional trenches. There will be a couple of times when the sewer will be crossing under Crawfordville Highway. You can imagine the traffic problems that would be caused by digging a trench across the highway, installing pipe, covering the trench, and then repaving the road. None of this will happen with directional boring. Directional boring will result in less traffic disruption, Lower costs, deeper installation under our wetlands, shorter completion times, and environmental sensitivity.

Almost as a side note, none of this work is costing Wakulla County taxpayers one dime of county property taxes. As a properly administered sewer system, this installation is being paid by the users of the system. Joined by the Wakulla County School Board, and the developer of “The Flowers” subdivision, this installation is ahead of schedule and below projected costs. Using contractors working for the Wakulla County School Board is saving Wakulla County Government thousands of dollars. I commend and appreciate the School Board and County Government working together to save both of government entities money and getting a project done faster. I will continue to work with our fellow government boards to save you money. It was a pleasure working with Superintendent David Miller, Mr. Duggar, your school Board, Mr. Pingree, EUTAW Utilities, and your BOCC to get this project done.

Although traffic disruptions will be minimal, there will be heavy equipment and work vehicles entering and exiting the highway. Please be careful.

These comments originally published on March 26, 2008.

Ed Brimner

Chairman, Wakulla County Commission (District III)

(850) 251-8709 (Cell)

(850) 926-0919 (Office)

(850) 926-0940 (FAX)