Tipton City plans a phased reconstruction of East Street, along with half a block on Independence and the connecting stretch to Jackson Street, to address chronic drainage problems, Dylan Dietrich, superintendent of the municipal services department, said on the Tipton Thrives podcast.

Dietrich said the project will install new storm sewer and roadway and will use concrete sidewalks rather than the multiuse path planned for West Street. "The next project, which hopefully will break ground late summer, early fall, it would be East Street, along with half a block on Independence, and then the connecting ... Jackson Street," Dietrich said.

City officials said the work is likely to proceed in multiple phases because of cost; Dietrich estimated two to three phases would be possible depending on funding and scope. The goal is to separate stormwater from sanitary sewers in the southern quadrants of the city — areas that officials say have experienced the worst drainage — and reduce the amount of runoff routed to the water treatment plant.

"Separating it, we can get rid of the rain runoff compared to the sanitary," Dietrich said, describing how the separation would reduce load on the plant. City staff also said crews have been cleaning and clearing drains after heavy rains while the work is pending.

No firm construction start date or project cost was given; Dietrich described the schedule as tentative and contingent on funding and other factors. The city said East Street will not include a multiuse path and will instead retain or replace concrete sidewalks.