Council approves cost‑recovery agreement with airport authority for Raleigh‑Millington sewer work

The Memphis City Council on Aug. 5 approved a resolution authorizing a cost-sharing/cost-recovery agreement between the City of Memphis and the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority for sewer improvements identified as the Raleigh‑Millington Forest Main Sewer Improvements. The resolution (item 32) was presented by the administration and carries a request for same-night minutes. Committee recommended approval. Public Works Director Scott Morgan explained the airport requested an alternate sanitary sewer connection as the city replaces failing sewer lines near the airport. "They requested an alternate location which cost more money because it was a longer connection point," Morgan said. He and staff said the airport agreed to pay the additional cost for the alternate connection. Morgan stated the additional cost to be paid by the airport is $354,000. "We're gonna do the work, they're gonna pay us back," he said. Council members sought clarity that the city will not subsidize the airport’s alternate connection. Morgan and others confirmed that the city's planned sewer replacement would proceed regardless and that the airport would cover the incremental cost of the requested alternate connection. Councilman Warren moved the item from the floor for discussion and it carried after a recorded roll-call vote with all members present voting in favor. The resolution establishes terms for the city to perform the work with reimbursement from the airport authority; legal and implementation details were not read into the record beyond the cost‑recovery description.