In still another step toward boosting growth in Kershaw County’s West Wateree area, the County Council has approved plans for a sewer expansion project.

Similar moves during the years have fizzled, but backers say officials appear to be united and committed to making the latest sewer expansion effort work.

Council voted unanimously Tuesday to work toward installing a sewer collection line along the U.S. 1 corridor between Lugoff and Elgin.

The project is estimated to cost about $1.3 million, but supporters say project revenues will easily pay for the project.

“This will return our money many times over,” said Councilman John Wells, who represents the Elgin area.

Sewer connections along the U.S. 1 corridor between Elgin and Lugoff will open up thousands of acres for industrial, commercial and residential development, said Mitch Rabon, council member from the Lugoff area who proposed this particular plan earlier this month.

The Lugoff Sewer District, owned by the county, will build and operate the system under approval from County Council.

While many new customers are expected from additional economic development, revenues from current and expected customers already in place could pay for the project, Rabon said. Anticipated customers would be two schools in the Elgin area, one to be built during the next two years, 40 houses in Elgin Estates subdivision, and the Thermoid Co., just on the outskirts of Elgin.

Blaney Elementary and a proposed new middle school nearby would be the school users. Plans for the new school are in part tied to the new sewer service.

While the engineering will be different, a plan to run sewer lines from the Lugoff treatment plant to growing areas around Elgin is not new.

The County Council voted to do that two years ago, but the plan fell apart over differences in engineering/financial concepts and political infighting.

Rabon said folks appear together on the new plan, and council Chairman Steve Kelly Jr. endorsed the latest plan strongly.

“I have previously said providing sewer service at Elgin is critical to economic development, and I recommend we proceed immediately to contract for engineering studies,” Kelly said.

Rabon estimated the sewer work will be completed in about two years.