By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Town of Somerville recently received a check for $3.7 million from USDA Rural Development for use in developing a pubic sewer system.
Beverly Helton, assistant to the state director for the federal agency, presented the check to Mayor Ray Long at an Earth Day observance on the Old Morgan County Courthouse lawn. The check represents a $2.7 million grant and a $1 million loan.
Helton said USDA Rural Development announced funding totaling more than $185 million for 48 communities in 30 states on Earth Day’s 38th anniversary.
Somerville will use the federal funds to construct phase one of a public sewer collection system to serve approximately 262 residential and 30 business customers. The wastewater will be pumped to the nearby Town of Priceville and treated in its wastewater treatment plant. The collection system will predominantly be a low pressure pumped system, with some conventional gravity lines and a force main to the treatment plant.
Project engineer Larry Whitley of Ladd Environmental Consultants, Inc. said construction will begin within six to nine months. More than 15 miles of collector lines are involved.
The town already has a $384,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for phase two. It will extend collector lines from Sharp Road east to the intersection of Highway s 36 and 67. There are about 52 residences and 12 businesses in that project area.
Long said Somerville qualified for 75 percent of the total project cost and received 73 percent. The $1 million loan will be paid back over 40 years at a 4.3 percent interest rate.
All residents of the town will be required to hook on the sewer system, according to Long. Others living outside the town have the option of hooking on free of charge if the line runs in front of their house. However, outside residents who tap on at a later date will be charged a tap-on fee.