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Caneyville’s wastewater treatment plant and its workers were honored recently by the Kentucky Rural Water Association for excellence.

During the association’s 33rd annual conference, Caneyville was one of 10 finalists statewide for the 2012 Wooden Bucket Award. This award is presented to a water and/or wastewater utility that has made substantial and lasting improvements in providing high levels of customer service and high quality drinking water and wastewater services in its community, including having shown exceptional efforts in meeting the needs of their communities, enhancing their operations, and complying with regulatory requirements.

While the city didn’t win, it did receive a plaque.

During this week’s city commission meeting, utilities superintendent Avery Fleener and worker Mike Woosley were recognized by commissioners. Fleener was also presented with the plaque.

The city’s wastewater treatment system dates back to the 1980s.

In other action commissioners:

* Approved spending $18,410 for fencing from Fleener Brothers for the new ballfields. The company has recommended going with 6-foot-tall outfield fencing, with slighter taller fencing closer to the plate and bleachers.

Sewer lines will have to be installed at the fields before the fencing can be put up. The city will ask for help installing it from Grayson County Detention Center inmates.

The city will use old ballfield fencing that the Grayson County School District has been saving for it at its current ballfields.

* Learned work appears to be on schedule on the upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

The project includes replacing the 30-plus year old plant’s mechanical equipment, replacing the aeration devices and adding screening to help remove some floating debris from the oxidation ditches.

Pouring concrete started this week, and is expected to be the main focus during the first three weeks of the project, said engineer Vern Shanklin of Kenviron.

“So far, I don’t see anything that’s going to come up and bite us,” he told commissioners.

* Approved closing Vine Street and reversing traffic on Third Street during the upcoming Caneyville Fair and Homecoming.

* Approved the second reading of the city’s 2012 tax ordinance, which sets the rate for both real and personal property at 21.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The city will be taking the “compensating rate” — a rate that allows it to receive roughly the same amount from taxes as last year — which will drop the tax rate .2 cents.

With the city’s overall assessment increasing by more than $280,000, to $16,364,399, the new lower tax rates are still expected to generate about $1,000 more in real property tax revenue and about $3,000 more in personal property tax receipts.

* Discussed repairs and renovations that will be needed at the old Caneyville grade school building, which the city is in the process of buying from the Grayson County School District. Besides reconnecting water and sewer service to sections of the building, the city will also have to repair damaged floor tiles in the auditorium, and possibly redo landscaping.

Commissioners discussed using the building for storage, meeting space for the Community Club and the fire department, possible office spare for the police department, and other uses. The Adult Education program will continue to use the building for classes.

* Learned Daniel Carter donated a concrete saw to the fire department. Fire Chief Anthony Clark said they plan to change the saw’s blade so it can be used to cut metal, enabling firefighters to use it for structure venting and rescue operations.