ADECA rep. explains grant options for rural sewerage
By Evan Carden SA Editor
in McIntosh, Monday, May 5, several local officials from Washington and north Mobile counties learned what may be available for a rural sewerage system to be put into place.

In recent months, Washington County and McIntosh city leaders have been working diligently to put in place the first rural sewerage system in the state. Until now, all sewerage systems in Alabama are overseen by municipalities. This one will be regulated by the county in partnership with the town of McIntosh.

The main hurdle in the process thus far has been funding for the project. During the meeting Washington County Probate Judge Charles Singleton explained to Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) representative Al Jones that several options were considered before choosing a chamber module collection system, which collects wastewater in tanks then pumps it to a treatment facility. A similar system is already in place in the small Clarke County town of Fulton.

Jones was on hand to explain the different types of grants available for funding such projects. State Representative Marc Keahey was also in attendance to gather information to determine if he may be able to assist in securing some type of funding.

Four types of grant funds were discussed:

*Competitive Fund - Awarded to small cities, large cities and counties, applicants are scored based on several competitive factors including community need, cost efficiency, appropriateness and impact.

*Community Enhancement Fund - Available to all eligible communities to use for projects that address quality of life issues.

*Economic Development Fund - Can be used for infrastructure projects supporting the creation or retention of jobs.

*Planning Fund - Used by communities to conduct planning activities to promote orderly growth, regional development and revitalization efforts.

Jones said the competitive fund is perhaps the most difficult to obtain, because there is such a competitive process that must be followed. He pointed out that the deadline to apply for competitive grants is May 15, which leaves just more than a week to prepare.

Approximately 19 Competitive grants are awarded by the state each year, according to Jones, and range from $400,000 to $500,000. With the deadline for application so near, he suggested looking at the other grant options.

The Community Enhancement and Planning grant deadlines are in August and would give the county more time to apply. Judge Singleton said the county has been working on obtaining Planning and Economic Development grants.

Jones explained that the amounts usually awarded from those funds is usually much smaller. He said the Community Enhancement grants are usually awarded if an "urgent need" can be shown. He said the area to be affected must have a population of which 51 percent is made up of residents with low to moderate incomes.

Singleton said the area near McIntosh for which such a grant would be used meets those requirements. "We first looked at going with a more conventional design for the system, but many of the people here would not be able to afford the tie-in (tap) fee nor the monthly charge," explained the judge. "When you have a large number of residents on fixed incomes they can't afford to pay several thousand dollars to tie in to the system, plus a $35-$40 a month sewer bill. Economic development has to drive the train."

Singleton went on to explain that is why the county is now looking at beginning with the sewerage system being installed down the Highway 43 corridor from McIntosh to the Mobile County line. "With this module system we can install individual systems and connect the dots later," he said. "We have to address this from an economic development standpoint to begin with."

The judge recently announced a private developer wishing to put a motel in the area would install one of the module systems for the facility. During Monday's meeting he said the developer has indicated that once the system is in place he would turn it over to the county.

"I would prefer to locate the sewerage system three to four miles off of Highway 43 and down a dirt road for the treatment facility," Singleton added.

McIntosh Mayor Carroll Daugherty said the sewerage system was badly needed. "There's not a septic tank system in this area that will perk," he said. "There is no area in the state that needs this more than us."

Rep. Keahey and Jones agreed that the county was moving in the right direction by pursuing the project from an economic development standpoint. Keahey asked if the county would be able to handle the maintenance for the system once it is up and running.

"Not at this time," replied Singleton. "We have to establish an authority, which will own the entire system. Right now we don't know who will make up that authority."

He went on to explain that the authority has to be established in Washington County alone because the state prohibits crossing county lines to do that. He told Rep. Keahey that the current estimated cost establishing the system is between $15 million and $17 million. "That's why I went to Washington (D.C.) and asked for direct appropriations."

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