EAST CAPE OFFICIALS EYE NEW SEWER, WATER WORKS

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- East Cape Girardeau officials are hopeful that funds will become available for a new sewer system and water treatment facility.

"Residents here rely on septic systems for sewer treatment now," said Clyde "Bud" Pearce, chairman of the McClure-East Cape Girardeau Water District. "We hope to install a sewer system at East Cape in the near future."

The small community across the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau will receive a Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant in the amount of $369,000 to assist in the construction of a new waste-water collection-treatment system.

"This is a big start for the project," said Pearce. "We have also applied for a Farmers Home Administration grant and loan."

Pearce is optimistic that the FmHA request will go through.

"A new sewer system is expected to cost about $1 million," he said. "We have applied for a $400,000 grant and $200,000 loan from the FmHA."

Pearce said the district meets all requirements for the FmHA loan.

"We expect to hear from the FmHA soon," said Pearce. "We have been in contact with FmHA and feel that approval will be given.

"We already have a water system intact," said Pearce.

A half dozen communities in Alexander and Pulaski counties will be recipients of CDAP grants totaling more than $1.4 million, all targeted for improvements to local sewer and water systems.

Heading the list of federally funded CDAP grants in the state's two lower counties are New Grand Chain in Pulaski County and East Cape Girardeau in Alexander County.

New Grand Chain will receive $400,000 for a new sewer system.

Other Pulaski County areas to receive grants include Olmsted, which will receive $277,983 for water system improvements; Mound City, which will receive $47,437 for sewage treatment improvements; and Karnak, which will receive $49,500 to upgrade its water system.

East Cape Girardeau's $369,000 heads Alexander county communities for funds. Tamms will receive $84,875 for water system improvements and Alexander County has been approved for a $247,417 grant for water system improvements.

Residents of New Grand Chain, population 273, rely on on-site septic systems, seepage fields, privy and cesspool systems.

Officials say the high ground-water table causes pollution problems in nearby ditches, creating a hazard to residents.

The community will receive the maximum amount available ($400,000) to assist in the construction of a new waste-water collection-treatment system able to meet the needs of New Grand Chain.

A total of 115 communities 60 throughout Southern Illinois in the state will share $28 million in grants.

"Southern Illinois is dotted with smaller communities that have pressing public infrastructure needs," said Gov. Jim Edgar, who announced the grants. "The reasons vary: some rural areas have traditionally relied on wells and septic systems that have outlived their usefulness; other communities are experiencing growth; and still others are coping with problems presented by aging or inadequate water and sewer systems.

"In each case, public health and safety is threatened by inaction," said Edgar. "These grants cannot solve all of the problems which exist, but they can ensure that residents in these communities will be able to access safe drinking water and escape problems presented by unsafe sewer systems."

The state received a total of 137 applications requesting $35.8 million for the grants.

CDAP grants are funded with federal block grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grants are awarded to units of local government with populations of 50,000 or less outside one of the six urban counties that received funds directly from HUD.

The maximum grant available is $400,000. At least 51 percent of the project's beneficiaries must be people with low or moderate incomes.