Mt. Vernon Register-News

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August 17, 2011

Funds for water system awarded

By TESA CULLI tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Residents of Moores Prairie Township who do not have water service are closer to getting potable water after it has been announced a federal grant and loan have been awarded.

The Moores Prairie Water Company formed last year in June, after residents worked for years to get water for the township. In 2007, the Greater Egypt Planning Commission began assessments to see if the residents of the township would qualify for a Community Development Assistance Program grant. The assessments came after Rend Lake Conservancy District notified residents it would not be expanding water lines to the area, citing the costs of expanding lines would be more than could be recouped in fees. The residents are not part of the water district and do not pay taxes to the district.

Jefferson County became the lead agency for the grant, which was awarded in November 2009 for design engineering for water service, easements and general administration of the grant.

At the same time the CDAP grant work was being done, residents and Greater Egypt was working with village officials of Belle Rive, which at one time stated it would expand its water lines to serve Moores Prairie after threatening to discontinue purchase of water from the City of Mt. Vernon and buy water directly from RLCD. However, in April 2010, the village decided not to expand the lines and take on more debt, according to previous information from Kathy Dagg, the president of Moores Prairie Township Water Company.

The residents formed the private non-profit water company in hopes of attaining grant funding and creating a water distribution system for its residents. According to information from U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, Moores Prairie Township Water Company has been awarded funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The company has been approved for $623,200 in grant funds and a $318,000 loan by the Rural Development Community Facility Loan and Grant program.  According to information from Shimkus, the funding will be used to construct about 24 miles of water mains, and the company will purchase its water directly from Rend Lake Conservancy District.

“Moores Prairie residents used private wells and cisterns that became contaminated, requiring the hauling of water,” Shimkus stated. “I am pleased that will no longer be necessary. I would like to thank Rural Development for all its help.”

The $318,000 loan will be for 40 years with a 2.5 interest rate. In addition, the water company will contribute $16,800 to the $1.03 million project.

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