The Ironton city public works committee Thursday night gave favorable recommendation to a resolution to pursue private funding for the design of the first phase of the city’s combined sewer overflow project.

The first phase of the project would separate storm and sanitary sewers in the north end of town between Orchard Street and Hanging Rock.

The storm sewer separation is required under a consent order issued last month by the Environmental Protection Agency. The issue has been discussed for years and the city has been collecting a CSO fee to help pay for the project. The project would also help alleviate flooding in the north end of town. Councilman Leo Johnson asked Doug Cade, of E.L. Robinson engineering, if it is possible something tangible could be done by the end of this year.

“We’ve told people for years, we’re going to repair this problem. Finally, people, after three years, are asking if we’re stockpiling the money. They want to see some action,” Johnson said. Cade said one of the things holding up the project is money. The first phase alone is estimated at $4.5 million; the total project — all five phases of it— is estimated at $18 million.

The committee also gave favorably recommendation to a resolution to pursue private financing for the city’s water meter project that would replace the city’s outdated meters.

Cade told the committee the city has three options to fund the project, with private financing or a loan through the Ohio EPA both of which have similar interest rates but the private financing requires “fewer hoops,” he said, and the city will get the money within 30 days. If the city got a loan from the EPA, the money may not be available until August. Cade said the third option is for the city to wait and see if it receives any federal economic stimulus money and use that money to pay for the project.

“Our chances of getting any of that stimulus project are none,” councilman Kevin Waldo replied.

“Can we go private and then if the stimulus money comes, great?” Johnson asked.

“That’s my recommendation,” Cade replied.

The total cost of the project is an estimated $1.4 million.

Both these resolutions now go to the finance committee for approval and then on to city council for consideration.