Eagle Cove residents tell Pelham council lift-station estimate nearly doubled, urge city help

Several Eagle Cove residents told the Pelham City Council on March 5 that a proposed upgrade to their neighborhood sewage lift station has become far more expensive than they were initially told.

"I've been practicing, for 2 minutes at home, so this this will get. My name is Daryl Tina. I live at 136 Eagle Cove Drive in Pelham. This is regarding the lift station in our subdivision," resident Daryl Tina told the council during the public‑comment period. Tina said residents were originally given a quote of about $188,000–$200,000, which would have translated to roughly $250–$270 per household per year over 10 years. He said he was later told the new quote is $396,000, which he said would push the annual cost to about $500–$550 per household.

Another resident, Carl Belsnider, said the pumping station had not been disclosed when many homes were first developed and that neighbors had accepted the earlier estimate. "We were all okay with that," Belsnider said, adding that the larger figure was not acceptable to many homeowners.

Both speakers said the matter has been under discussion for more than a year and that residents and the HOA have held multiple meetings with city staff and contractors; Tina said there had been "roughly 11 closed door meetings" involving city officials and the HOA.

The presiding council member acknowledged the Eagle Cove concerns and said tariffs and rising materials costs — particularly for steel and other supplies — have driven increases in construction estimates. He said the city would provide prior and current estimates to residents and noted that staff would share more information. The council did not take a formal vote on the matter during the meeting.

The issue was raised during the public‑comment period, and council members did not indicate a final decision at the March 5 meeting. Residents said they expect increased outreach to city hall once the higher estimate becomes widely known.

Next steps: council members said staff will provide the documentation and pricing details referenced by residents; no timetable for a formal council decision or financial assistance was announced at the meeting.