News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Byrdstown wants to upgrade its water plant through TDEC’s ARP money coming down to Pickett County.
Mayor Sam Gibson said the primary project for the town is improvements to settling basins.
“We’ve got three of them there at the water plant and two of them have sink holes and have leaked out,” Gibson said. “We’re under state mandate to do that and that’s about a $3 million project.”
The ponds are used to control water pollution by using gravity to suspend and remove waste. Gibson said since the state requires repairs, using ARP money would mean water rates do not have to increase.
“You’re scorecard is a ranking of all those projects that need to be done,” Gibson said. “The primary one we have is at the water plant. (…) But we would also like if we could use some for sewer. We have some issues to address there also.”
TDEC requires entities to create a scorecard to make sure projects follow spending guidelines. Gibson said the town is currently completing its list of projects. Gibson said the cost of this project will likely take up the majority of available funds.
“We’ll have to match it with about half a million dollars out of the water fund,” Gibson said. “I think we will be able to manage that. Working through the county, I think it will be a big improvement.”
Counties receive a portion of some $1 billion from TDEC in the form of non-competitive grants to distribute to municipalities. Pickett County’s allocation to share is $2.7 million.
