Ironton’s Railroad Street sewer may be repaired in time for thousands of marchers to pass over it.

The city finance committee met Monday night and voted unanimously to recommend that the mayor accept a $75,000 loan Ohio Water Development Authority to repair a large hole in the sewer.

Bob Cleary, finance committee chairman, said that the loan, which has zero percent interest and the city will have 20 years to repay, was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“It’s a good deal, it’s something we definitely wanted to move on,” Cleary said.

Cleary said that the next closest bid was around $16,000 higher.

“It’s a really good bid, and I’m glad we got somebody to do it for that price,” Cleary said.

The chairman said the mayor aimed to have the work done in time for the city’s Memorial Day parade.

The Railroad Street problem began in December 2003 when a section of the street, approximately 16-feet by 12-feet, caved in because the brick sewer line collapsed and undermined the ground.

The hole was excavated to allow for the repairs that wrapped up in early 2004.

Currently, the hole — near the intersection of Railroad and Sixth streets — is covered with a large wooden box. The plan must now go before the city council who must first approve the mayor to take out the loan.