By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
Tribune Managing Editor
KEYSER — It's official — the City of Keyser has been notified that they will receive over $7 million in Recovery Act funding which will enable them to build a new water treatment facility.
Although Mayor William “Sonny” Rhodes had already signed the paperwork for the funding last week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack did not make the official announcement until this week that Keyser was one of the projects in 20 states which would receive funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Construction of the water treatment plant is Phase II of the city's $11.5 million two-phase water system improvement project.
Chosen for the awards were projects designed to protect public health by improving water quality and sanitation services.
Rhodes said the funding will include a $3.1 million grant and a $4.5 million loan.
“All the money is now in place and we can go ahead with the project,” he said, noting that Dunn Engineering, the design firm working with the project, can now begin working on the design for the new water plant.
The current plant dates back to 1924. Proposed upgrades will include new filters, setting basins, a chlorination system, pumps, emergency generator, and telemetry system.
Rhodes said several different scenarios are being considered, including setting the new plant back further from the street where the town garage is now located, or placing it on the property which the town received from the Mineral County Board of Education in trade for extending the city limits — and police protection — to the board properties further south on Harley O. Staggers Drive.
In Washington, Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd, along with Congressman Alan Mollohan, applauded the announcement of the funding award.
“Updating and reinvesting in water infrastructure continues to be one of our top priorities for West Virginia,” Rockefeller said.
“I have been working on waste-water infrastructure improvements since my days as governor, and I know how important these improvements can be for our economic development and the well-being of West Virginians.”
Senator Byrd added, “In West Virginia, and all across the country, the health of millions of men, women, and children is endangered because of contaminated water. The federal government has a clear responsibility to provide support, both financial help and engineering assistance, to ensure safe and efficient water systems to all of our citizens.
“This stimulus funding to Keyser will help them achieve these goals.”
“This is terrific news for Keyser,” Mollohan said. “Like many communities in West Virginia, Keyser has faced substantial financial challenges in upgrading its water system. This funding from the Recovery Act will be a great help.”
The funding is being awarded through the USDA Rural Development Fund, which funds water and environmental projects.
Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provides loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 or less. Public bodies, non-profit organizations and recognized Indian tribes may qualify for assistance. WEP also makes grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to assist rural communities with their water, wastewater, and solid waste problems.
Phase I of Keyser's project, which has already been funded, will include the replacement and relocation of the city's water tank currently located on Potomac State College property, as well as water lines in the Limestone area.
“It looks like we'll be able to start that in August,” Rhodes said.
As for Phase II, he said contracts could possibly be awarded in November, “but I don't think there will be a shovel in the ground until April,” he said.
