IDA approves water line bid

The IDA recently received a $1.5 million grant/loan package from GEFA to fund the project, which will complete water lines along all the major highways in the county. Griffin Brothers was also given a “motion to proceed” by the board for construction to begin.

In other business, the Industrial Authority held a public hearing to receive comment on submitting plans to the EPD for approval of the expansion of sewer services along a portion of Hwy. 72 from Hull to Colbert Elementary School. Sewage would be processed at the current Hull-Sanford sewer system on Hwy. 29 South. Chris Quigley of the engineering firm Peoples and Quigley estimated the project will cost $2.25 million. He said receiving approval of the plans from the EPD would last five years, giving the IDA the option to move forward.

IDA executive director Marvin White said the county must expand its sewer services if it is to attract business to the county. “We need sewer in this county to generate business for tax revenue,” White said, hinting that a business was looking at the Hwy. 72 area, though he said he was not at liberty to elaborate on what that business was.

IDA board chairman Bruce Azevedo said he was in favor of sewer expansion, but that he was most interested in how it would be paid for.

“The first thing we need is a permit giving us permission from the EPD to move forward and that’s what were doing,” White said.

The board also heard a request for county water from Glenda Adams, who lives on Woodland Drive off Roger’s Mill Road. IDA utility director Steve Shaw said he would measure the area and prepare a cost analysis.