Harrison system part of long-term water supply picture

Madison County leaders sought out federal stimulus funding to tie on to the Franklin County and Royston water systems at Hwy. 29 and Dove Town Road, just north of the Broad River bridge.

The $2.3 million project was funded primarily through stimulus money, with 70 percent of the cost coming with federal funding and another $600,000 coming through a low-interest, 20-year loan. The project included approximately eight miles of water lines. So far, 40 customers have signed up for county water service in the Harrison area. Madison County industrial authority executive director Marvin White said the authority expects to have approximately 75 customers served by that system.

White said that beyond serving residents in the Harrison area, the connection serves a strategic goal for Madison County. He noted that Franklin and Royston systems have good water supplies and added that those systems are tied to the Commerce, Banks and Jackson water systems. Therefore, Madison County now has a northern tie-in to surrounding counties’ water supplies. The authority already has an arrangement for water on the western edge of the county with Commerce, which serves the Black Creek Church Road area.

NOV. 15 MEETING

Madison County’s industrial authority held a very brief meeting Nov. 15, agreeing to table any action on proposed water rate changes. The IDA has proposed a slight increase in water rates in the Hull area to bring those rates in line with other county customers.

Utility director Steve Shaw reported Monday that 723 county customers were billed in October for 4.13 million gallons of water, which was down about one million gallons from September.

INGLES EXPANSION

The Ingles in Hull is planning a major expansion project. Shaw told the authority Nov. 15 that Ingles is waiting for Jackson EMC to relocate a power line behind the store, then the store can complete its sewage lift station. The county industrial authority recently completed a sewerage system in the Hull area, which will serve Ingles and the veterans clinic on Hwy. 29 — along with other commercial entities in the area. Ingles waited for the county to complete its sewerage system before it proceeded with the expansion project. Now, the county is waiting on Ingles to complete its lift station before Ingles is connected to the Madison County system.