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Liberty is getting $1.47 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to make improvements to some of the city’s worst sewer lines.

Gov. Jay Nixon last week announced at a construction site in Kansas City North a $266 million wastewater and drinking water improvement package, which included $146 million in federal stimulus funds and $120 million in low-interest loans from the state.

At the time, the governor’s office said in a press release that Liberty was getting $1.9 million.

“That amount was incorrect,” said city engineer Brian Hess. “We’re getting $1,473,000.”

Hess said the city would match the stimulus funds, allowing the city to make nearly $3 million in improvements to approximately six miles of aging sewer pipes.

He said the project, which would be done in two phases, had been put out to bid, and the public works department was in the process of analyzing the bids. He said they had gotten four bids on each project.

“We’re hoping we can award the bids by the end of November or early December,” Hess said.

Nixon said in a press release that getting the funds out to cities would speed job creation and help communities make needed infrastructure improvements.

“Wastewater and drinking water projects are critical to maintaining our public infrastructure, but are also vital to getting construction workers and skilled tradesmen back to work right away,” Nixon said.

“Too many Missourians are currently out of work,” Nixon said. “…My administration is working with local partners to ensure that these communities are getting these jobs rolling now.”

Hess said if the weather cooperated, work could begin on the sewer projects this winter.

Hess said the city planned to replace or insert plastic liners into old clay pipes, especially in older neighborhoods. He said some of the clay pipes in the downtown area were more than 100 years old.

Hess said the city had about 170 miles of sewer pipes, and he estimated that about half are clay pipes in need of some improvements.

“If we can line some of them, we don’t have to tear up the streets. It’s less intrusive,” Hess said. “We’re going to concentrate on the worst areas.”

Hess said by replacing or lining the deteriorating pipes, the city would also be able to stop storm water and ground water infiltration into the sewer system, potentially saving money. Liberty pays Kansas City to treat its wastewater.

Hess said the work should continue until summer. Neighborhoods on the schedule included downtown, part of Canterbury, Wilshire, Westboro, Liberty Manor and Southland Estates.

Without the stimulus money, Hess said the city would not have been able to finance the sewer improvements, considered among the most costly infrastructure challenges facing the city. A mayoral task force reported recently that the city had an estimate $170 million in infrastructure needs.

The city also received $378,000 in stimulus funds to overlay and improve Kansas Street and a couple intersections along Mill Street. The road projects have been completed, Hess said.

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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