The Town of Essex is looking at $4.4-million in upgrades to deal with a basement flooding problem.
Stantec Consulting outlined the price tag in its assessment of the situation in a report to council.
Area resident Jason McGrath has dealt with nearly $60,000 worth of flooding in the last year and is encouraged by the report.
"We fee like something is actually moving forward," says McGrath. "We've been waiting a year for this; for any kind of action, any kind of resolution, any kind of answer."
Stantec Consulting has four high priority recommendations which includes upgrading two pumping stations, increasing the sanitary sewer size on Brian Ave. and recommissioning the southwest lagoons in Essex.
As for the $4.4-million price tag, McGrath can deal with it.
"To me, I have to pay more taxes that's fine. Eventually down the road maybe my house will be worth something whereas right now I'm paying taxes on essentially something I can't turnaround. It has no value," says McGrath.
The town is applying to the Small Communities Fund to try and secure money for the project. Construction could potentially begin May 2016.