Putnam Increases Support For Brotherton Water

The Putnam County Commission will increase its contribution for the water tank replacement project for Brotherton Mountain.

County Mayor Randy Porter said the county originally planned to spend some $550,000 but Algood requested the county increase that to $800,000. Porter said the extra expense would be paid for using interest the county has accrued on its ARP funding set aside for infrastructure.

“That interest that we have drawn off of that five and a half million while we’re waiting for these projects to come about and be paid for has to be spent on some of those projects,” Porter said. “And we have it committed before December 31. So what I’m asking you to do is take the interest that we’ve drawn and move it over.”

Porter said Algood asked for the extra support because the bids for the project came in much higher than expected. Porter said the county is about $50,000 short of the interest it needs to fully cover the extra cost but he expects to gain the rest before payment is due.

“If they don’t do it, those pumps are starting to give trouble and it’s going to be some point that there’s not going to be water on the mountain,” Porter said. “And we don’t want to see that.”

Porter said the project still belongs to Algood so the city will continue to manage the operation. Porter said Algood is also increasing its payment for the project to some $931,000.

“I think once they award the bid it’s probably, building a large water tank and changing out pumps, it’s probably a year process would be my guess,” Porter said.