The Winchester Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution for a $1.4 million loan for a major sewer project around Hampton Manor.

The resolution is an agreement between the city and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority for the loan for a number of sewer improvements, which will eliminate sanitary sewer overflows within the system.

Winchester Municipal Utilities General Manager Mike Flynn said the WMU commissioners will award a contract at tonight’s meeting. From there, he estimates it could take a year to 18 months to complete the project.

A memo from Flynn to Winchester City Manager Matt Belcher said the project will install about 3,500 feet of new sewer line ranging in size from eight inches to 24 inches.

The city commissioners also approved a grant application for a new multi-purpose training tower and building for Winchester Fire-EMS. The department is asking for $150,000 from the Kentucky Fire Commission. The entire building is estimated to cost about $570,000.

The department hasn’t had its own training tower since the previous one was deemed structurally unsafe and demolished in 2014. The plans for the building include a rappelling tower, two burn rooms and a three story residential section which can be reconfigured for search training, Winchester Fire-EMS Battalion Chief Jason Keller told the commissioners Tuesday.