Hamilton approves $600K for water backup

By Kathryn “Chazz” Hirschfeld
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton will put up $309,813 to match a $309,812 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to fund alternate water supplies.
The total investment is $619,625, with  the matching funds coming from the city’s American Rescue Plan/COVID monies.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page remarked on the grant during the council’s Monday, April 15, meeting.
“This is something we’ve been awaiting for some time,” he said. “I recommend that we accept this grant from ARC to establish alternate water supplies and match it.”
The vote by the council was unanimous in favor of accepting and matching the grant.
Page explained part of the grant funds will be used to make a six-inch tie-in connection to the Marion County Water Authority’s rural water lines on County Highway 42.
The location has been described as close to where County Highway 51 comes back up to County Highway 42 near the sod farm.
Another portion of the funds would be used to replace a burnt out pump that was hit by lightning and rehabilitate the pump station located between Hamilton and Guin.
“It’s a very expensive pump,” Page noted. “But it’ll allow us another water source as backup, allowing Guin to be able to pump water to Hamilton in the event of an emergency.
“We want to spend this money on those two items for backup water supplies in two locations.”
The mayor said as soon as the ARC funds are available, the city will move forward on the projects.
“These grants really pay off and lighten the burden on the city,” he noted. “On a good day, we don’t need a backup, but on a bad day, we do. Also, future growth is another reason we need more backups.
“We have more good things in line in the near future. We hope the connection between us and Franklin County will also be made possible before too long, creating a third backup water source”…