Local News
Hanceville seeks sewer improvement grant
By Patrick McCrelessPATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM
The Hanceville Water and Sewer Board needs money to repair damaged sewer lines in the area and Wallace State Community College is doing everything possible to ensure funding becomes available.
“It’s critical that they get these funds,” said Dr. Vicki Hawsey, president of Wallace State.
The board recently voted to apply for a $400,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). If approved, the grant — which will require a $151,000 match from the board — will be used to repair sections of a two-mile sewer line that runs along U.S. Highway 31. The board committed the matching funds to the grant during its regular meeting on April 8.
Board member Hubert Jones said most of the repairs would be concentrated in the southern part of the city.
“This will do the first part of it (line),” Jones said of the grant. “The whole project is $1 million.”
The damaged line is currently providing poor sewer service due to a high volume of water infiltration. The line services almost all of Hanceville’s fast food restaurants along Highway 31 as well as Wallace State Community College.
Hawsey said a well-functioning sewage system is needed to keep up with Wallace State’s long-term growth plans.
“We’re increasing at a rate of 3 percent a year in enrollment,” Hawsey said.
The college currently has approximately 6,000 students.
“By 2012, we expect to have another 2,500 to 3,000 students,” Hawsey said.
She added that several building programs are also in the works, which will require a strong sewer system.
Hawsey said Wallace State faculty members have already advocated to the Alabama Legislature to improve the board’s chances of receiving the grant. Faculty members have also taken their pleas to ADECA.
“We’ve written support to illustrate the seriousness of getting these funds,” Hawsey said.
In addition to helping Wallace State, repairing the sewer line is expected to help the board avoid fines from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
“ADEM has given us a couple of years to get the whole thing (project) done,” Jones said. “If we don’t, there will be another fine and write up I’m sure.”
The board is currently paying off a $25,700 fine ADEM imposed due to several unscheduled discharges from the Hanceville sewage treatment plant over the past year.
This is not the first time the board has applied for a grant to repair the Highway 31 line. Jones said the board applied for a similar grant last year, but it was not approved.
To Jones, Hanceville has a fairly good chance of receiving the grant this year.
“Talking with the engineer and our consultant ... everybody seems to think it’s likely to be a fundable grant.”
Jones expects the board to receive confirmation on the grant in September.
- Local News
-
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
Six city intersections will be without power due to electrical maintenance Sunday, so city police are urging local drivers to be cautious.
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
A Cullman County man who has been on the run since he was accused of molesting a child in 2006, was found in Mississippi Tuesday.
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
A local man who allegedly impersonated a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by a real one Thursday.
-
Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
-
Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
-
Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
A city and county-wide Veteran’s Day celebration will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with Civil War re-enactors a Depot Park. Events will continue throughout the day at the Festhalle Market Platz.
-
Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
Two Hanceville men are behind bars after police allegedly recovered a working meth lab and about $20,000 worth of stolen property Wednesday from a local residence.
-
City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
-
Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
A Sumiton man who eluded about 50 area law enforcement officers during an April manhunt, only to be arrested in Walker County in July, was recently returned to Cullman County to face charges.
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
