The wait is over for Byrdstown as the town has finally received its lead and copper grant funding awarded by the state two years ago.
Byrdstown Mayor Sam Gibson told Aldermen Monday night the grant is worth an estimated $150,000, and the town had to spend it on things related to the water system. Gibson said the reason the town had to wait so long to receive the grant was because the town had to change the grant’s amendment.
“Instead of using it for our bookwork and our paperwork of reporting everything from the office here,” Gibson said. “We amended it and put it into equipment which would be the same related also to going out and working on the lines and covering them up and so forth.”
Gibson said the grant was originally going to be used to do some repairs on water lines, but the water department was able to address the repairs before the grant was approved. Gibson said the town has already spent the funding to purchase a mini excavator. Gibson said the mini excavator will be very helpful for future water line maintenance and installation.
“It’s a little easier to move around on our trailers,” Gibson said. “And sometimes we do have enough work that we need two, and now we have two, and so we will have two of them. Just like the past two weeks, we had one broke down, and we were kind of paralyzed as far as going out and digging and putting in meters and things because we were broke down.”
Gibson said the town also purchased a bucket and a grapple for a skidsteer to help with laying water lines and fencing.
In other business, the Board of Aldermen approved a bid for mowing services. Gibson said the lone bid received was from the current lawn care company that has done the mowing services for the past several years. The charge for services will go up from $750 to $900 every two weeks.
The board tabled an action item to purchase water treatment plant parts. Gibson said the item was not ready for consideration and the board would reevaluate the action item in April.
