$18M Bee Creek sewer to connect 700 homes, businesses

The Branson Board of Aldermen gave final approval Monday to an agreement between the city, Taney County Commission and Taney County Regional Sewer District to construct the Bee Creek sewer system. Homes and businesses there will be taken off septic and treatment plants and linked to Branson’s sewer system.

“It’s certainly an environmental issue because it will take all of these businesses and homes off of septic tanks, some of which are already leaking in that area,” Branson Public Information Director Jerry Adams said, adding that the new system will help preserve groundwater and Lake Taneycomo.

Construction of the system addition is expected to begin early next year, according to Adams, and should be complete in about a year. Bonds will be sold to finance the $18 million project, and the bonds will be paid off by the county’s one-half-cent sewer sales tax.

The regional sewer district will own the Bee Creek system until it’s paid off in about 20 years, though the city of Branson will operate and maintain the system. Branson also will be the exclusive provider of all future sewer services in the Bee Creek and Emory Creek basins.

Residents and businesses that connect to the new system within six months of its completion will have their sewer capacity fees waived.

See the Branson/Tri-Lakes Page in SBJ’s print editions for more Branson news.