greg-cws
05-05-2009, 11:13 AM
Dollars flow to water projects
BY PATRICE ST. GERMAIN • patrices@thespectrum.com • April 29, 2009
ST. GEORGE - Stimulus money flowing into Southern Utah will help water districts and national parks with infrastructure and maintenance projects as well as bring new jobs into the area.
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The state Drinking Water Board recently authorized $32.2 million, including federal stimulus funding, for construction of drinking water projects. Those funds will be combined with other sources of revenue to construct $78.7 million worth of projects around the state.
Across the country, 750 park projects will receive funding under the President's Economic Recovery Plan and in Utah, national parks will get a boost to help with needed projects.
Cedar Breaks National Monument will receive $150,000 to perform preventative maintenance at North View and Chessman overlooks, repair trails and boundary fences.
Paul Roelandt, superintendent at the monument, said he was grateful for the funding, especially in these difficult economic times.
"We have wanted to do this (projects) for a while," Roelandt said.
Roelandt said the monument, at 10,000 feet elevation, has a short window for maintenance projects, but hopes to start this summer and, if necessary, complete the projects next year.
The projects will be completed either by day crews with park supervision or a locally qualified contractor, Roelandt said.
Either way, the maintenance work will help accomplish the goal of stimulating the local economy in the form of jobs.
Because Cedar Breaks is a small park, Roelandt said it doesn't generate a lot of money and the $150,000 project would take up to 10 years to accumulate the money needed for the maintenance.
Other local parks to benefit from the National Park Service's Recovery Act include Bryce Canyon with $579,000 to demolish and replace a comfort station to meet ADA requirements and repair the historic Bristlecone Trail and Glen Canyon to perform preservation treatment on 68 miles of road.
Zion National Park will receive funding to install additional photovoltaic panels and perform critical trail repairs.
The Central Utah Water Conservancy District will receive a loan water treatment plant capacity expansion.
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Dixie Deer Special Service District, which provides water to the Dixie Deer area in Central, will receive a $498,000 loan and $1.37 million grant for a new well and waterline.
District chairman Steve Haluska said normally the Division of Drinking Water gives money with 55 percent loan and 45 principal of forgiveness or grant.
Because of the stimulus money involved, the loan portion is 27.1 percent and 72.9 grant.
Haluska said the district has also applied for grant money from the Rural Development Agency and said the district will be unable to do the project unless additional grant money is received.
The Washington County Water Conservancy District is receiving a $4 million loan and $1 million grant for a 20 million gallon storage tank.
District manager Ron Thompson said they also have grant requests in to the RDA and there are specific terms from the Drinking Water Board that the district will have to deal with including a potential issue with the steel for the storage tank and paying the Davis and Bacon wage rules.
Thompson said the district is required to buy all American products but said he has been told there are exceptions with some products such as the steel rebar.
The Environmental Protection Agency has outlined how it will award and administer State Revolving Fund Capitalization Grants appropriated to the state and Tribal Assistance Grants under the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."
Thompson said the EPA was still developing the rules on the stimulus money, which should be out no later than the first week of May.
"That (the rules) is not the most critical point," Thompson said. "It's getting the financing in place."
BY PATRICE ST. GERMAIN • patrices@thespectrum.com • April 29, 2009
ST. GEORGE - Stimulus money flowing into Southern Utah will help water districts and national parks with infrastructure and maintenance projects as well as bring new jobs into the area.
Advertisement
The state Drinking Water Board recently authorized $32.2 million, including federal stimulus funding, for construction of drinking water projects. Those funds will be combined with other sources of revenue to construct $78.7 million worth of projects around the state.
Across the country, 750 park projects will receive funding under the President's Economic Recovery Plan and in Utah, national parks will get a boost to help with needed projects.
Cedar Breaks National Monument will receive $150,000 to perform preventative maintenance at North View and Chessman overlooks, repair trails and boundary fences.
Paul Roelandt, superintendent at the monument, said he was grateful for the funding, especially in these difficult economic times.
"We have wanted to do this (projects) for a while," Roelandt said.
Roelandt said the monument, at 10,000 feet elevation, has a short window for maintenance projects, but hopes to start this summer and, if necessary, complete the projects next year.
The projects will be completed either by day crews with park supervision or a locally qualified contractor, Roelandt said.
Either way, the maintenance work will help accomplish the goal of stimulating the local economy in the form of jobs.
Because Cedar Breaks is a small park, Roelandt said it doesn't generate a lot of money and the $150,000 project would take up to 10 years to accumulate the money needed for the maintenance.
Other local parks to benefit from the National Park Service's Recovery Act include Bryce Canyon with $579,000 to demolish and replace a comfort station to meet ADA requirements and repair the historic Bristlecone Trail and Glen Canyon to perform preservation treatment on 68 miles of road.
Zion National Park will receive funding to install additional photovoltaic panels and perform critical trail repairs.
The Central Utah Water Conservancy District will receive a loan water treatment plant capacity expansion.
Advertisement
Dixie Deer Special Service District, which provides water to the Dixie Deer area in Central, will receive a $498,000 loan and $1.37 million grant for a new well and waterline.
District chairman Steve Haluska said normally the Division of Drinking Water gives money with 55 percent loan and 45 principal of forgiveness or grant.
Because of the stimulus money involved, the loan portion is 27.1 percent and 72.9 grant.
Haluska said the district has also applied for grant money from the Rural Development Agency and said the district will be unable to do the project unless additional grant money is received.
The Washington County Water Conservancy District is receiving a $4 million loan and $1 million grant for a 20 million gallon storage tank.
District manager Ron Thompson said they also have grant requests in to the RDA and there are specific terms from the Drinking Water Board that the district will have to deal with including a potential issue with the steel for the storage tank and paying the Davis and Bacon wage rules.
Thompson said the district is required to buy all American products but said he has been told there are exceptions with some products such as the steel rebar.
The Environmental Protection Agency has outlined how it will award and administer State Revolving Fund Capitalization Grants appropriated to the state and Tribal Assistance Grants under the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."
Thompson said the EPA was still developing the rules on the stimulus money, which should be out no later than the first week of May.
"That (the rules) is not the most critical point," Thompson said. "It's getting the financing in place."