 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Water, sewer plan pushed forward
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET © St. Petersburg Times, published April 11, 2001 INVERNESS -- Armed with a University of South Florida report that confirms that septic tanks are polluting the Chassahowitzka River, the County Commission voted Tuesday to move ahead with plans to bring central water and sewer lines to the area. The board unanimously approved a $63,000 contract with C&D Engineering to draft a preliminary engineering report that grant programs require, said water quality project coordinator Ken Cheek. In order to finance the $6-million sewer system and $2-million central water system, the commission also approved a $12,000 contract with Summit Professional Services, a group that will search for grant and loan programs the county could use. So far, the county has secured $1-million from last year's legislative session for the wastewater project, and a number of other grant applications are in the works, Cheek said. At this point, the proposed state budgets for next year contain no funding for Chassahowitzka. County Commissioner Gary Bartell said it is crucial the county receive some state and federal assistance for the Chassahowitzka water and sewer lines, because the roughly 400 homes in the area cannot bear the entire cost of the $8-million project. "Even though we are not making great strides in getting these grants, the other option is just too expensive," Bartell said, estimating that each Chassahowitzka home would face a $15,000 to $18,000 assessment if no more grants could be found. About half of the funds for the nearby Homosassa wastewater system came from state economic development grants, which the county received by running the sewers past businesses that agreed to hire more employees, Cheek said. But he said Chassahowitzka does not have similarly expanding businesses that could help the county qualify for more economic development grants. In other commission news: Federal funding update. U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman, D-Dunnellon, gave a short presentation listing the federal funding requests she will make for Citrus County, including $5-million for the Chassahowitzka wastewater system, $2-million for the Chassahowitzka water system, $500,000 for central water in Lake Tsala Gardens, $500,000 for central sewer in Indian Waters, $1.9-million for the Homosassa sewer project, and $4.8-million for upgrading the sheriff's radio system. Asking is one thing, Thurman said, but actually getting any of those funds out of next year's tightening federal budget will be another story. President George W. Bush's proposed budget, for example, calls for cutting the Environmental Protection Agency's project funds by $500-million, she said. DAV building purchased. Commissioners approved a contract to buy the Disabled American Veterans site at 8940 W Veterans Drive in Homosassa, with plans to convert the 7,400-square-foot building into a senior center and congregate dining hall, similar to the centers in Lecanto and Inverness. The sale price is $170,000 plus closing costs.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
