| A wide-reaching expansion of public water is coming to Calhoun, according to the Calhoun County Commission.
Additional funding for the water extension, which was initiated as a project of the Mt. Zion PSD, was announced on February 10th by Gov. Joe Manchin, according to commission president Larry McCallister.
The Applachian Regional Commission will fund $1.5 million of the project, according to Gov. Manchin.
The project will bring water to 183 new customers with the cost of the entire 21-mile project at $4 million.
It will consist of about 110,000 linear feet of water line, a pumping station, two water storage tanks and other equipment.
The water service is being extended from Arnoldsburg to Chloe (the Upper West Fork Park), in addition to another line serving the Millstone area, Sand Ridge, Sassafras Ridge and ending at Russett.
"Bringing public water to these areas will not only provide potable water to homes, but it will increase property values and allow for further development during this century," McCallister said.
Mt. Zion PSD has a letter of conditions from the Rural
Utilities Service for a $1.8 million grant and a $600,000 loan. An
application for $1.5 million grant from the Small Cities Block Grant program was submitted in February, 2005, but that part of the funding will now be provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Because of rapidly increasing construction costs, mostly related
to national disasters, engineers Boyles & Hildreth of Spencer
was asked to review the cost estimate.
The construction cost is estimated to have increased by approximately $500,000, and the Rural Utilities Service is considering funding the additional amount.
Calhoun currently has two PSDs, Pleasant Hill and Mount Zion, both of which purchase water from the Grantsville municipal system.
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