Rural water project underway east of Bernie

Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #7 reorganized the board of directors at their regular meeting held May 7. PWSD #7 is in the midst of a $1.23 million rural water project which will bring treated water to nearly 200 customers in the southeast portion of Stoddard County. The board awarded the bid for construction of the project to Young's Construction Co. of Hornersville in January of this year.

The board of directors elected the following officers: Larry Logan to remain as president; Bill Zoll to remain as vice president; Judy Zoll was re-appointed to the position of clerk/treasurer; and Doris Turner as the alternative to J. Zoll. Directors B. Zoll and Johnnie Rutledge ran unopposed for re-election to the board.

Bill Zoll updated the board on the progress of the construction. He said approximately 30 miles of water lines have been installed. The total project calls for 87 miles of water lines to be installed. Another construction crew will being the process of boring under driveways for pipe installation as soon as the weather permits, according to Zoll.

The board was also informed that USDA Rural Development has approved the upgrade of water meters used in the project to "automatic read" meters. The engineering firm, Waters and Associates of Sikeston, is working on proposals for the board, Zoll said.

The Department of Natural Resources requires the district to have an Emergency Operations Plan prior to the issuing of a district license to dispense treated water. Board members worked on the preliminary draft of the plan, which will be submitted to DNR when completed.

Voters in the proposed water district approved a bond issue that will provide local financing for the project. That initiative will allow the district to issue $946,000 in bonds, which will provide low-interest loans for construction. Zoll said the local financing was necessary to obtain the Rural Development grant. The remaining funds for the project came from water and environmental programs administered by USDA Rural Development. These funds are targeted to rural areas, cities and towns of 10,000 population or less.

The next meeting of the PWSD #7 board will be June 11 at 7 p.m. at the Bernie United Methodist Church annex. The church is located at 3078 W. Main. The meeting was changed from the second Thursday of the month due to scheduling conflict.