Sewer district asks for $1.2 million

After a brief public hearing, the Jay County Regional Sewer is prepared to ask for $1.2 million for its three slated sewer projects.

The sewer district is seeking the money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development department for three sewer installations at Foxfire Drive and Ind. 67 near Portland, around Willow Drive in south Dunkirk, and in north Dunkirk at the Skeens Addition. The district sent the application to Rural Development in mid-July.

"We're looking at 45 percent grant funding and the rest as a low interest loan," said Wayne Bailey of Commonwealth Engineers.

The 45 percent grant level is the maximum possible. If that maximum is obtained, it would be a $540,000 grant and loans of about $660,000.

Other than high school students attending as a class assignment, only one person attended the meeting and offered no comment.

Ben Adams of Commonwealth Engineers said at July's meeting, that Rural Development is hungry for projects to fund and should quickly pick up the district's application.

In other business, the district voted to pay two bills, an advertising bill of $10.05 and a permit fee to the railroad company for $2,100. District members could not pay another bill for $1,450 for an archaeological survey - a mandatory part of pre-construction environmental work - since the sewer district has insufficient funds.

"I would pay this one to the railroad," said board member Bob Brelsford, "and maybe beg the commissioners for the rest."

Adams said he had drafted a letter to the commissioners requesting an additional $50,000 to bolster the sewer district's operating budget until it receives its USDA money.

That amount will need to be reviewed by the Jay County Council before it can be loaned to the sewer district.[[In-content Ad]]