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May 21, 2012
Delta Regional Authority grant helping to improve Steelville water system
The project totals $108,090 with Delta Regional Authority (DRA) awarding the city a $54,045 grant, and the City of Steelville providing a cash match of the same amount. Some 1,500 feet of two-inch line along Grand Street will to be replaced with 1,500 feet of six-inch PVC. The present line is greatly deteriorated and galvanized and does not provide adequate flow or pressure to the seven households served on the street. The new line will be tied to an existing six-inch PVC line and will be connected to an existing two-inch service line off First Street. Line construction includes gate valves, hydrants and connection to the existing meters. “This project will definitely help the water pressure and volume as well as fire protection with the new hydrants,” said Steelville Mayor Terry Palmer. “The project is also helping improve our infrastructure. Any time we put in new lines to replace the old – it’s a big upgrade.” After replacement, the city will be able to provide efficient, quality water flows and pressure to a portion of city residents who currently receive inadequate water service. The city also plans to attract and retain residents to this particular service area. Meramec Regional Planning Commission wrote the grant for the project and is providing contract management throughout the project. The city hired Missouri Engineering Company to provide engineering services. N.B. West Contracting of Sullivan serves as the contractor for the project. DRA is an independent federal agency with a mission to provide assistance to economically distressed counties in the Mississippi Delta Region, as designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Led by Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon serves as the states’ co-chairman for DRA. The DRA helps economically distressed communities to leverage other federal and state programs that are focused on basic infrastructure development and transportation improvements, basic public services improvements, business development, and job training services. MRPC is the Local Development District for the DRA and is responsible for providing information and technical assistance on the grant process. MRPC is responsible for making local governments and nonprofits aware of the grant opportunity and to assist them with the preparation of applications. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 29, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities. For more information on DRA grant opportunities in the Meramec Region, persons may contact Kelly Sink-Blair at 573-265-2993.
N.B. West Contracting prepares to install a section of the new six-inch water line on Grand Street on May 10. |
