Everly Mayor Brad Behrens probably never thought he could be so happy about a sewage pond.

Thanks to a relatively dry spring, an improvement project at Everly's wastewater treatment ponds is progressing rapidly. Trees have been leveled around the area, sludge has been removed and dirt work is underway.

"They were actually doing really well until it rained," said Behrens. "It was one of the driest springs we've had in a long time, but with five inches of rain recently, that's probably going push things back a bit."

Behrens said last week crews were getting close to starting pipework. The ground needs to dry out a little more now, but with a warm forecast, it's likely work will ramp up once again.

"We needed the rain, but I'm hoping for a dry year," Behrens said. "If we get a dry summer, we could get well along with this project."

The progress is a long time coming. The improvements have been in the city's crosshairs for well over a decade, but several roadblocks delayed plans indefinitely throughout the years.

The project is necessary to bring the ponds up to code. Their small capacity leads to water discharge during large rain events, which violates DNR regulations. The council had originally hoped work could start last fall, but a delay in the bid process made that impossible. Eventually, the city council was forced to change the proposed completion date for the sewage project to Oct. 15, 2021. The original target was Dec. 1, 2020.

NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS

A red-winged blackbird perches atop construction supplies at Everly wastewater treatment ponds last month.

The improvements will cost the city an estimated $3.88 million. A majority of the project will be financed through a state revolving loan as well as local option sales tax funds. Everly also landed a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant to help with costs.

While a lot remains to be done, Behrens was glad to see visible progress at the ponds.

"It's good to see things happening out there," he said.