ST. AGATHA – A proposed sewer line extension project that would serve 50 to 65 users has been postponed by the town while it looks for grant money to fund the project.

According to a rough estimate, the project would cost between $500,000 and $1.2 million. The line extension would run along Route 162, Cleveland Road to Brook Road and along Brook Road.

Town Manager Ryan Pelletier says the town could qualify for a grant from the federal Rural Development Agency, but that would cover only 75 percent of the cost. Officials are hopeful that a state Community Development Block Grant could be obtained, but the next round of funding isn’t until December 2003.

“The missing piece in all of this is where the additional 25 percent is going to come from,” Pelletier said. “The town could borrow the remaining funds, but it would impact the user fees significantly.

“The Board [of Selectmen] has decided to pursue a CDBG application for the additional monies,” he said. “I think it will be better all around.”

The town acquired a $15,000 grant in 2001 to survey homes in the affected area to determine user income, to develop a cost-benefit analysis and to seek engineering expertise for the sewer line extension. The survey revealed that the town was eligible for up to 75 percent of the funding it needs from Rural Development. Town officials are now working with the Northern Maine Development Commission on a grant application.

Last week, the town hired the engineering firm of Woodard & Curran to conduct an environmental review of the sewer line extension area. Town officials also decided to postpone the project until after 2003. The environmental review is needed for the federal application.

Pelletier believes that the fact that the town is a designated area within the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone will help in acquiring the needed grants.

“There is no question that this [sewer line] extension is needed,” Pelletier said. “A lot of the existing [private] sewers in the proposed area are over 25 years old, and are operating on borrowed time.”

The town’s present sewer system has 250 users along Route 162, from the boat landing on Long Lake to Michaud furniture, and Flat Mountain Road to the Lakeview Restaurant.

The system was built in 1967. A few upgrades have been done, with the most recent in the mid-1990s. That upgrade included the Flat Mountain Road area and some extension along the southern end of the line on Route 162.

The current user fee is $315 per year per user. Pelletier believes that the fees could be reduced with an increased number of users because there would be minimal increase in operational costs.