Cole County commission, residents and contractor agree on plan to tie adjacent properties into Russellville sewer

Cole County commissioners, affected residents and a contractor discussed a path to resolve malfunctioning on‑site wastewater systems adjacent to Russellville on Tuesday, with participants saying funding is in place and agreeing to a plan that would tie the properties into a joint system.

At the meeting, a county representative and contractor from All Clear said funding for the work had been secured and that work could move forward if easements and routing issues were resolved. "Funding had been... one of the main issues... I think funding has been secured for both parties," a county speaker said.

Commissioners and contractors described two technical options: a single divided tank with a single bore under the road, or two separate systems routed around property constraints. After discussion, the group said they would pursue a single divided tank tied across the road, which the contractor described as the most cost‑effective approach. "It's all gonna be tied in... it's gonna be a lot cheaper to do it all the same area," the contractor said.

A neighbor who identified herself as Christina said she would grant an easement on one condition: mitigation of mosquitoes related to a nearby lagoon. "I could give an easement on one condition... the mosquitoes keep my kids from playing outside," Christina said. County staff said the lagoon had been dry on prior inspections but agreed to pursue vegetation removal or bulldozing and additional pest control if necessary. A representative from All Clear volunteered to flatten the unused lagoon at no labor cost to help address the mosquito concern.

Nut graf: The discussion resolved several outstanding hurdles: parties said the necessary funds are in place, the contractor recommended a divided single‑tank tie‑in to minimize costs, the neighbor agreed to provide an easement if mosquito mitigation occurs, and the contractor offered to clear the lagoon. Commissioners described the exchange as a cooperative solution rather than a contentious enforcement action.

Speakers discussed operational questions about shared systems, including separate pumps and electrical services for each household to ensure responsibility and service separation. The contractor explained that each home would have its own pump and electric supply so that failures could be isolated and repaired without leaving the other property without service.

No formal vote was taken; participants said they would move forward with coordination among property owners, the contractor and county staff to document easements, finalize the routing, and schedule the work. County staff said they would follow up on vegetation removal and mosquito abatement and confirm final routing with All Clear.

The commission thanked the parties for working together to reach the solution and returned to the agenda.