The Richland County Board of Commissioners passed two separate resolutions Thursday morning during their weekly board meeting.
The commissioners first met with a representative of the Madison Water District and the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP), who together sought the authorization to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to replace the water lines in the Madison Township.
In 2003, the Madison Water District planned a study to service the entire township’s water lines; however, the study was declined by most water associations and water supply businesses. Since then, the district has been working out the kinks of the study, and is now in a position to accomplish what it set out to do 10 years ago through a partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP).
Joyce Gray of RCAP stated that the agency is applying for $265,000 for construction costs plus another $100,000 for hookup costs for low-and moderate-income families.
This project entails constructing all new water lines in the Madison Township area from St. Rt. 42 to Grace St. and Illinois Avenue to the east border, which includes 46 homes. Additionally, with its completion, the Lincoln Terrace Community Water Association (LTCWA) would be eliminated.
The LTCWA is a non-profit water system located on N. Illinois Ave. in Mansfield. It was developed in the 50s and since then, “they’ve let their system fall apart and now have some compliance issues with the EPA,” stated Lonnie McGhee, President of McGhee’s Technical Water Services and representative of the Madison Water District. “They’re losing about two-thirds of the water that’s being pumped and there are water quality issues that need to be dealt with.”
In order to commence the project, the Madison Water District first had to apply for authorization by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA approved the application and labeled it as the number one priority project.
The district anticipates the project to be completed by the end of the year.
The commissioners unanimously agreed to authorize RCAP to apply for the CDBG grant.
Commissioner Tim Wert added, “I’m glad to see someone taking advantage of this grant system and moving forward to make lives better.”
In addition to passing the RCAP resolution, the commissioners authorized a resolution for a replacement tax levy for the Children Services, which will update an existing 1-mill levy to reflect current property values.
The current levy is based on property values from 30 years ago.
Executive Director of Children Services, Patty Harrelson, stated, “We’re asking citizens of Richland County for less than $5 for a $100,000 home. That translates into $60 a year.”
Board chairman of the Children Services, Robert Konstam explained, “This levy is important to us because without it we’d lose 25% of our operating money.”
Another Children Services chairman added, “We’ve decreased personnel expenses by about 12 positions, not by eliminating any staff, but by holding down those expenses along with other hard expenses. We’re asking you to help keep us going as you have been, hopefully because the things we’re doing for kids are working.”
