ELBERTA — Despite hitting a recent snag, the town of Elberta is getting closer to having an improved drainage system.

Thanks because during its regular meeting Tuesday, the Elberta Town Council approved changes to the project, which will then be submitted for state approval.

According to Susan Monroe of Monroe and Associates LLC in Prattville, it’s a project that’s a long time in the making.

“It took us four years to get a project funded,” she said, explaining that Elberta has serious drainage issues that lead to severe flooding.

But after applying for federal funding in 2010, the town was awarded a $400,000 community development block grant from HUD, which was then given to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for distrubiton.

“It’s the only pot of federal money the federal government has to allow cities and counties to fix sewer and water systems,” Monroe said.

The grant administrator explained that the town is receiving full funding of the project “because the town could not afford to put in any money,” Monroe said.

She added that such an award is quite beneficial.

“This is a huge boon for Elberta,” Monroe said.

However, the project hasn’t been without problems. During a public hearing Tuesday, Monroe sought the Council’s approval to change the project. She explained that the original project consisted of installing drainage pipes south of U.S. Highway 98, along three parallel streets, beginning with a cross of Olive Street and diagonally cutting down to Main Street and ending on Lavinia Street. However, the plan would cut across several residential homes and easments would be required to do so.

“We could not get all of the easements,” Monroe told the Council.

So instead of the city condemning the hold-out property owners, an alternate route was developed and presented Tuesday.

This plan takes the drainage system from down Dakota Avenue straight down to and across Old Foley Road. According to Monroe, a representative of ADECA visited the site and suggested the new route.

Following discussion, the Council approved the changes.