The long awaited project that will make state-required improvements to Pye Lake Dam came Feb. 21 when Fayetteville City Council approved a $727,466 low bid by North Georgia Concrete. The work will be performed through a FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant with the remaining 25 percent local match funded through stormwater fees.

The project is required due to the dam’s previous Category I designation by the state Safe Dams program.

Problems with the four decades-old dam and the threat to life and property downstream surfaced several years ago. Studies showed that the Pye Lake Dam had several structural problems.

The dam was designated as a Category 1 dam, meaning that its failure has the potential to endanger at least one life. Fayetteville maintenance crews installed a siphon in late 2003 to lower the water level to prevent further weakening.

Several homes were damaged in June 2003 and problems identified that year by the state Safe Dams program revealed that a breach during a heavy rain event could endanger nearby residents.

Other bids for the project included $803,543 from Massana Construction and $812,670 from Brent Scarbrough & Co.