BELLE — The Belle Board of Aldermen is preparing to move forward with a series of water and sewer infrastructure improvements funded through the State Infrastructure Program (SIP) grant.

According to a memorandum dated Feb. 10 given to board members during their rescheduled Feb. 25 meeting from Caleb Homan, E.I., of Archer-Elgin Engineering, the city has been awarded $1 million in state funds through the SIP program. The grant requires a 10 percent local match, calculated at $111,111. Recent water system work and similar expenditures will serve as the local match, with a June 30 deadline to expend the funds.

City officials have identified several priority projects for the remaining SIP funds. Planned work includes replacing water lines along Highway 89 between First Street and Third Street, lining aging brick manholes in the sewer collection system, replacing fire hydrants in multiple areas of town and installing a water main to connect Tower No. 2 to the south side of Highway 28 as part of the overall infrastructure plan.

Homan’s memo says that to keep project scopes clear and align procurement, permitting and construction sequencing with the SIP schedule, the remaining construction work is being advanced as separate project packages.

Preliminary cost estimates for the full list of projects total approximately $1.7 million. However, the remaining available budget is about $550,000. To address that gap, each package is structured with a base bid and alternates, allowing the city to adjust the scope based on bid results and available funds.

The first package, the Highway 89/Alvarado Street water main improvements, focuses on drinking water infrastructure along Alvarado. The project is designed with a base bid and alternates so the city can scale the limits of work depending on pricing.

The second package targets sanitary sewer manhole lining as part of wastewater infiltration and inflow reduction efforts. Structures have been surveyed and prioritized, with the bid package also structured as a base bid plus alternates.

The third package, the Belair Street/Highway 28 water main extension, is intended to strengthen water distribution and address low pressure during periods of high demand. City crews plan to install a water main along Belair Street connecting Tower No. 2 to the Highway 28 crossing included in the project.

A fourth component involves fire hydrant replacement. That work will be performed by city crews, with the scope based on available funding.

Bid openings are expected in March or early April. Construction and project closeout are planned for spring 2026, with closeout targeted by June 1 to stay ahead of SIP reimbursement timing requirements.

Following the bidding cycle, officials plan to present bid results and award recommendations that prioritize project scope within available SIP funding while maintaining the overall timeline.