Decatur applying for grant for two backup generators

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

ā€” City council members completed an important step in the process of applying for a grant for a backup generator at the new wastewater treatment plant and a smaller lift station generator, at the April 11 meeting.

The council voted to pass a grant resolution authorizing the city to submit an application for the Arkansas Community Development Program grant following a brief public hearing attended by two community members.

If the city receives the grant, it will pay $260,000 toward the costs of the two generators, leaving the city to pay about $150,000, according to Jay Stallard, of the Arkansas Economic DevelopmentCommission. The application has already been pre-approved, he said.

The backup generator will allow the wastewater treatment plant to continue to operate when the electricity is out, according to public works director James Boston. The generator is a state requirement, he said.

ā€œIā€™m really excited about those two pieces of equipment,ā€ he said.

Stallard also asked the council if there are any other projects the city was in need of grant funds to develop and asked them to turn in a list of 7 to 8 priorities. He told them economic development and job creation is a priority for his organization and that small cities typically need grant money for water, wastewater, streets, roads and bridges.

News, Pages 1 on 04/20/2011