North Vernon officials are eying a $3.8 million expansion to the city’s sewer system.

A public hearing was held during Monday night’s City Council meeting to further explain the project and answer questions from taxpayers.

Richard Morin, an engineer who is coordinating the project with the city, explains that the project is needed to extend sewer service north to an area that was annexed in February of 2015. That area runs along the U.S. 50 bypass at State Road 7.

Morin explained that the area is currently served by residential septic systems and that many soil samples from the area reveal that 90 percent are susceptible to contamination.

The proposal calls for the project to be funded by the Indiana Revolving Loan Program. Residents in the area would be responsible for paying to connect their homes to the sewer system, along with rendering their septic systems inoperable. Morin says that the expansion is expected to cost current utilities customers about $72 per year.

If the project is approved for loan funding, city officials hope to begin work early next year.