Brooklet city officials are hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan.9, for what they are calling the “Brooklet to Statesboro” sewer project, with an expected cost of $5 million. To establish its own sewer system, Brooklet will extend a sewer main along a county right of way to tie in with Statesboro’s city wastewater treatment plant, as previously agreed by the three local governments.

Thursday’s ceremony will be held at 112 West Lane St., Brooklet, behind the John Wesley Center. Expected speakers include Brooklet Mayor Nicky Gwinnett, Bulloch County commissioners Chairman David Bennett, Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar, District 4 State Sen. Billy Hickman, District 160 State Rep. Lehman Franklin, and former District 160 State Rep.  Jan Tankersley.

“The much-anticipated $5 million sewer project will overhaul the community’s infrastructure and ensure reliable wastewater service for its residents and businesses,” states an announcement sent to media organizations by Brooklet City Clerk Lori Phillips. “Currently, residents and businesses in Brooklet operate on individual septic systems, which have pushed the limits of the local septic field capacity. The new sewer system will accommodate the city’s current sewer needs with the capacity to handle expected growth in the community over the next decade.”

The city of Brooklet has contracted Parker Engineering of Statesboro to manage the project and has awarded bids to Y-Delta Inc. and Shockley Plumbing for the installation of the sewer infrastructure. The project is anticipated to take around 12 months to complete.

A lunch reception for the participating officials and other invitees will follow the groundbreaking.