Push continues for pipeline funding
By Randy Bell
Almost $50 million in state and federal money has been set aside for a regional sewer project which is crucial to Clinton’s economic future. While that is far short of the estimated $130-135 million price tag on a pipeline to carry treated wastewater from Clinton, Raymond and Bolton to the Big Black River for disposal, the next phase of funding will mark a major milestone for the project.
“Another $20 million will allow us to actually start flowing the system,” says Clinton Mayor Will Purdie. “That’ll get most of the pipe complete. That’ll bring Raymond and Bolton fully online and a good portion of Clinton online. So, that’s our next goal. And then, past that, the funding would be for the remaining piping to get to the rest of Clinton and a large treatment facility that would be necessary to process all that.”
After getting no government funding in 2025, the project received $7.8 million in an Interior Department appropriations bill which President Trump signed January 27. Former Congressman Gregg Harper and his associate Brett Bailey have been lobbying Congress and the Mississippi Legislature on Clinton’s behalf, and Harper says they’re making another push for fiscal year 2027.
“We will certainly do another request [for] Congressionally-directed spending. We’d like to do something additional, obviously, for this season.”
Harper says Purdie and Consulting City Engineer Greg Gearhart joined him for a “thank you tour” of Capitol Hill in early February to express their appreciation for the past funding and to put House and Senate leaders on notice that more money is needed. At the same time, he’s optimistic the pipeline could get some state funds this year.
“I think, last year, the fact that there was no project money given out, period, that they will definitely do something this year. So, we feel very good. Representative Clay Mansell does a great job, and he’s got this high on his list to try to help. We really appreciate his hard work.”
Clinton is running out of capacity to continue discharging treated wastewater into several local streams, and the pipeline is seen as a way to solve that problem while helping to spur development in western Hinds County.
