New water system for Leadwood approved
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Mayor of Leadwood, Chuck White, made the historic announcement to a large audience at the board’s work session Thursday evening, April 3. The $12.6 million project will replace the antiquated system with a new treatment facility, all new water lines and hydrants, and a new water tower. The tentative groundbreaking date is set for May 6.
The January 16th meeting with the public and members of the USDA, DNR, DRA revealed the city was $6 million short of being able to finance the project. David Cheek from the USDA had said that the city did qualify for a $6 million loan, the consequences of which would drive water bills in Leadwood to the monthly $94.00 range. Mayor White stressed the necessity of the proposed system, and the room full of audience agreed. In a civil, but frank exchange, White exhorted Cheeks and his team to help the city and find more available grant money that would make the project feasible. White shared with those in attendance Thursday evening that their show of community support impressed the USDA officials, which resulted in the city receiving nearly $2 million additional in grants.
The breakdown in funding is Rural Development, $6,993,300; Rural Development loan, $4.660,000; Community Block Grant Development, $750,000.00 and Delta Region Authority, $245,314.00. The project is nearly 70% paid for with grant money.
Mayor White explained to the residents in attendance in person and watching online, “We need new water. We lost business, we lost residents, and a lot of appliances. With that being said, I’m here to tell you that the USDA did exactly what I hoped for. They did exactly what I think a lot of people have prayed for. They went to work and they found us money.” Continuing, he said, “There’s going to be certain people that are, I don’t want to pay anymore. Well, you’re going to pay a little more. We are, we have to.”
Tim Robbs, engineer from Taylor Engineering, has been on this project since the beginning in 2013. He spoke to the audience and Board and outlined the chronology of events leading up to the groundbreaking and beyond. He first told the audience of their impact at the January meeting, “I don’t think they (Rural Development) were convinced that they were going to work that hard to find the money. Then they saw a community that was together and really wanted this water system. So, I know they worked really hard with the Mayor and the Board’s persuasion. The percentage of grant funds to the whole project is pretty unheard of. It’s really great!” Continuing, he said, “The City will sign their bonding and all their loan documents with USDA. Then we will have successive pre-construction conference meetings with the contractors that day, when the city signs their contracts. We will also, at that time, give the contractors their notice to proceed. So, as of May 6, tentatively, the contractors will be able to begin.”
Tentative water rates have been set. No longer will there be a flat fee. Under the new system, the first 1,000 gallons of water will cost $51.53 with a $6.21 charge for each 1,000 gallons after that. The average Missouri household uses approximately 3,700 gallons of water a month in a household. All usage will be metered, so the more a customer uses, the more they will pay. The complete project will take two years, with a completion date of May 2027.
Mayor White suggested that the expense residents of Leadwood have borne for years of buying bottled water will become a net savings once the system is online. He said, with a bit of pride showing in his voice, “This will be a state-of-the-art water system,” to which Tim Robbs agreed. Residents will also find improved water pressure in the new system.
In a meeting punctuated with good feelings, the mayor moved on to another pressing issue and announced that the City of Leadwood has received two $50,000 grants for a total of $100,000 to study the collection and treatment in the 40-year-old sewage system. Jeff Meadows of Archer Elgin Engineering will be overseeing the study to establish the best way to rehabilitate or replace the current troubled system. White addressed the grants, “Just as with water, the first step is you’ve got to get an engineer. He’s got to come and figure this out. He’s got to do flows and tests, and we’ve got to know what the heck the problem is before we start throwing money at it. We’re running on a lot of old, outdated stuff right now.”
But the tone of the meeting was upbeat and the attitude of the audience was enthusiastic. After years and generations of frustration with a water system that has stifled the growth of the community, Leadwood’s residents deservedly have clean, odor free water in their grasp. Kudos to all those who have made this possible.
Dan Schunks is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at dschunks@dailyjournalonline.com.
