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March 2, 2012 For more information, contact:
Community Development Block Grant funds are available on a competitive basis annually through the Missouri Department of Economic Development for projects such as this one, explained Kelly Sink-Blair, project manager with Meramec Regional Planning Commission. MRPC is assisting the village with the income survey and grant application. The state receives the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The village must demonstrate that at least 51 percent of its residents are of low-to-moderate income to qualify for state funding. An income survey is necessary to determine if the area meets the grant criteria. If the area qualifies, the application will be prepared and submitted for funding. In an effort to upgrade its water system and improve performance, the village is seeking funding to make upgrades to the existing system such as replacing the water meters, expansion and improvements to the building housing the pressure tank and booster pumps, looping two dead end mains to provide multiple feed sources for the east side of town, replacement of faulty flush hydrants, and the addition of new valves. The emergency interconnection with the system owned and operated by the Washington County PWSD #2 would include the construction of a pit to house a check valve, a master meter and a pressure-reducing valve. The line from Caledonia would be a 4-inch line approximately 2,500 feet in length. “We want to put the loop in so we can section off the system if there is a leak. All of the meters are pretty old and need to be replaced. We want to make the pressure tank house larger. We want to run an emergency line to Washington County Water District #2 in case we need a back up. All of this is really needed,” said Mayor Robert Vinyard. “I would encourage everyone to fill out the survey,” Vinyard stressed. The CDBG program can provide up to $500,000 on infrastructure projects or up to $5,000 per household. The estimated cost of the project is $456,166 and the village anticipates requesting CDBG for $292,400. The village has been working with Taylor Engineering of Farmington, Mo. on the water system improvements. The village is also applying for a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Small Borrower Loan and is requesting grant dollars from the Delta Regional Authority. At least 80 percent of those households receiving a survey must return them, in order for the survey to be valid. The survey will take about five minutes for residents to complete. Residents will be asked their family size, their income range, race/ethnicity and the make up of the family—for example, whether it includes elderly or a female head of household. Survey information is confidential. Residents are encouraged to return the completed survey by March 25. Persons with specific questions may contact Caledonia City Hall at (573) 779-3492 or Kelly Sink-Blair at MRPC at (573) 265-2993.
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