The Columbia Board of Aldermen on March 5 formally accepted a state grant of $1,965,000 to upgrade sewer lines along North Road Street and in Secota Village.

The board authorized Mayor James Cahoon is sign the grant contract and town manager Rhett White was authorized to approve and sign 12 program compliance documents and reports relating to carrying out the project.

Money for the improvements is to come from the 2017 Community Development Block Grant –Infrastructure Program.

The town’s longtime grant writer Mike Barnette, professional engineer with McDavid Associates in Farmville, presented a series of documents for board approval. They included an acceptance resolution, program budget, and authority to procure engineering services.

White said later the Road Street work area is to be from Martha Street northward to and beyond Dana’s Way.

It could be as much as a year before construction begins, White added.

No local money was required to match the state grant, he said.