$1 million grant awarded; water rate increase coming

BEAR CREEK       -  A water project in the works at least the past five years has finally become a reality with a $1 million grant to revamp the remainder of Bear Creek’s outdated water system.
However, the Bear Creek Town Council, as required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which awarded the grant, also approved in the same meeting  where they accepted the grant Town Ordinance 8-2022, which raises water customers’ rates effective Oct. 1, of each year.
“Finally, we’re going to get this grant and get the water system where it needs to be,” Mayor Rob Taylor told the council at a special-called meeting Tuesday, Aug. 30.  Taylor also told the council and public in attendance that all water meters would now be electronic.
The grant will complete the upgrade of the town’s system, replacing old cast iron pipes that were not replaced when the town upgraded the system on Cherry Hill Road and  downtown through separate grants several years ago.
Resolution 2022-8C calls for the town to accept a $1,127,460 grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Council member Chris Hyde made the motion to introduce the resolution. Then, Taylor called for a motion to approve it, with Eric Loden making the motion, seconded by Alex Price.  All council members present voted in favor. Absent from the meeting were Eric Mills and Tom Misner, but the vote carried unanimously 3-0.
Taylor then turned council members’ attention to the ordinance 8-2022, which calls for an increase in water rates.
Price made the motion to introduce the ordinance Loden then made the motion to approve it, seconded by Hyde, with all voting in favor.
After Taylor retired from the town’s water system, Hyde began working on the grant to refurbish the remainder of the outdated lines, Taylor said.
“It’s something that’s needed to be done for 30 years,” Taylor pointed out.

 

 


See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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