DUDLEY GETS GRANT TO UPDATE WATER SYSTEM

DUDLEY -- The water system in Dudley is about to get a major face-lift.

Dudley recently received a $384,900 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to upgrade the water system.

Dudley acquired the grant through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for a project expected to cost $685,900.

Two service pumps, flow meters, controls and valves will be purchased with the project money.

A 4,000 gallon detention/settling basin will be installed, and other equipment, water lines and fire hydrants will be replaced.

Lucile Mullins, mayor of Dudley, said the city has been working on getting the grant for a long time.

She said it has been at least 10 years since the city began applying for the grant.

Mullins said for years it would apply for the block grant and was told the city needed to put up more money towards the project.

She said with the passage of bond issues and receipt of other grants, Dudley's water system will now be better.

Mullins said the water is rusty from old water lines.

"You can't have clean drinking water if you have rust (in the lines)," she said.

Rust would break loose in the lines and get in the water supply, she added.

"It has never gotten in the main line," Mullins said.

"We have had boil-out warnings (even though it was not in the main line)."

She said the boil-out warnings were not issued often, but were made.

"We have worked long and hard to get (the grant) and are glad we have got it," Mullins said. "It will take care of part of the problem."

She said when the city gets more grant money, it needs a new storage tank.

She explained the city only has one tank and needs the other for growing business.

Mullins said she expects to have the current water project completed in a little over a year.

"Considering the age of Dudley's current water system and the growth potential we are seeing in Stoddard County, assuring a safe, dependable water supply is top priority," Joseph Driskill, Missouri Department of Economic Development director, said.