Calfkiller Water Project Approved To Expand Water To Eastern Putnam

Putnam County Commissioners gave final approval to the Calfkiller Water Project with bids coming in just slightly above the expected numbers.

Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said he was happy with the three bids that came in for the project, between $4 million and $4.4 million. The project will bring water to areas of eastern Putnam County between Monterey and the county line.

“It’s doing the whole project,” Porter said. “I’m afraid if we start trimming any to cut out another $100,000 or something, that area will never get done, or it will be years and years out, so this gives an opportunity for that whole part of the county to get covered on this project.”

Porter said he has heard from developers who have said they will likely develop projects around Mill Creek once the project is complete. Some 75 homes already in place will also be served.

“This is a big project,” Porter said. “It is covering a large amount of area in the eastern part of the county that doesn’t have access to water.”

Porter said the project has $180,000 of contingency to offer some wiggle room while working on difficult terrain. The project will be funded through American Rescue Plan money. If the project is completed at the expected cost, $2.2 million of unrestricted ARP money will remain for the county to use as they please.

“I think we have spent the ARP funds very wisely,” Poter said. “You have done water projects, you expanded broadband out into the county to where everyone’s going to have fiber to the home and high-speed internet, you gave the county employees the stipend there after Covid, so we’ve done some really good projects in the county.”

The project starts on Highway 70 just below Sand Springs Church, with six-inch water lines running down Mill Creek Road to Calfkiller, then to the southern county line, and as far north as possible without going up the mountain. Porter said the project will also fix water pressure issues on Phifer Mountain.