Plans are moving right along for Project 19, estimated to cost the water district $750,000, with construction to begin later 2011.

Grayson County Water District Manager Kevin Shaw explained the efforts include a water-line upgrade to Hwy 187, a pump-station upgrade and the majority of work to involve upgrades to equipment at the water treatment plant.

Funding for the work will come through loans and or a grant from Rural Development.

During a meeting on May 24, water board members approved the motion to employ Cann-Tech’s services as the engineering company for Project 19.

Officials advertised for a statement of qualifications for the work in the local newspaper. Cann-Tech was the only company that submitted paperwork for the job.

“The water-line upgrade on highway 187 and the pump-station upgrade is only about 20 percent of the work,” Shaw elaborated. “The rest of the work will be at the water treatment plant; upgrading the heating and cooling system and changing from gas chlorine. We have initiated making an application to Rural Development for funding and loan money. This is the final step. We should hear something about the funding in October. It is optimistic to say the project will start later in 2011.”

Other agenda items covered:

• The water board was notified of some flooding damage that occurred for one of their commercial customers, Green Farm Resort in Falls of Rough.

According to Shaw, a bank had washed out in early May, causing crews to replace almost 400 feet of pipe. Repairs were estimated at close to $5,000.

Shaw was hopeful to see some FEMA disaster assistance, in order to recoup some of the funds.

“Grayson has never been declared a FEMA disaster yet for the event,” Shaw explained. “We may or may not be seeing some relief from FEMA on it.”

• In addition to the flooding for Grayson County in early May, the district also fell victim to lightning damage at the Warren RECC office (beside the Grayson County Middle School).

A lightning strike that afternoon shutdown power to both businesses at that location, with over $5,000 in damages to equipment that had to be turned into the insurance company.

“The damage was much more substantial to the Warren RECC property,” Shaw mentioned. “Techs worked on it through the weekend.”