After 30 years of service to Caneyville customers, the wastewater treatment plant is expected to receive a complete overhaul.

The Caneyville City Commission voted to approve the request of $400,000 from a Community Development Grant to rehab the plant.

Kevin Porter, with Kenvirons Incorporated, said the plant is 30-years-old, and some of the systems at the plant are deteriorating to the point that it needs repairing.

Porter explained that to meet effluent limits at the facility they must replace flow-metering devices, lengthen the channel, replace aeration discs with brush aerators, clean sludge from all three rings, and update the influent pump station.

According to Porter the city has $400,000 left in funds from a previous project, but that would not be enough for improvements to be made at the plant.

The commission will have to use the $400,000 it currently has left over from other projects to match the $400,000 it is requesting through the block grant, indicated Porter.

“What we are trying to do is stabilize rates and improve conditions for the area,” said Porter.

There are currently about 280 sewer customers in Caneyville, but with the sewer line extension on Highway 79 there will soon be more.

Porter, who has been the city’s consultant for five years, says the Caneyville City Commission has had really good performance on past grants.

The commission approved the resolution to authorize the Lincoln Trail Area Development to prepare a pre-application for the grant.

If approved, then a complete application would have to be submitted before the city receives the funding.

In other city business on May 12:

•Caneyville residents may have to start paying fire dues to the Caneyville Fire Department.

Fire chief Anthony Clark said most of the surrounding fire departments in the county were requesting fire dues be added to property tax bills.

Commissioners voted unanimously to pass the motion, but city residents will not be liable for fire runs.

•Repairs are needed for the community park at Caneyville due to recent wind damage.

A utility pole and lights are going to have to be replaced, and additional lights surrounding the field will be checked.

The commissioners approved the motion to restore the park back to its original state.