Hookups of Scott County water district customers continue

BENTON, Mo. -- If things continue to go well for Scott County's newest rural water district, its first residential customers should have water by Christmas.

Water district manager Tim McIntyre updated Scott County commissioners on Public Water Supply District No. 4's progress during their regular meeting Tuesday.

"Everything is going pretty smooth," McIntyre said. "We're looking to hook up our first residential customers in the next week to 10 days."

On Nov. 24, the district hooked up its first customer, the Kelly School District, and used Thanksgiving break to flush the lines while students were out of school.

Now it's Scott County Central's turn.

"We'll have them hooked up within the week, barring anything unforeseen happening," McIntyre said. "We're still waiting on some tests from DNR. It's not a big thing, but it is a requirement. Anytime you open a big line, it has to be tested. They just check it for anything that is hazardous to people."

He said plans are to begin flushing that school's lines Friday so they have the weekend to complete the flush before students return to school Monday.

McIntyre said he doesn't want to name specific areas for residential hookups or make promises on when customers will receive water as there is always the possibility of delays.

"These things take time -- weather affects it and so many other things," he said. "It takes a while to hook residences up but that's our next step."

McIntyre said the district is looking for more customers in the northern areas of the county.

"We need some more people there to sign up," he said. "The quicker we get them, the quicker we can be working in that area."

In other Scott County news, sales tax receipts for Scott County are up $53,876.67 on a half-cent sales tax as compared with last year's year-end total, according to Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn.

Commissioners are still awaiting the year's final tally on the other half-cent sales tax.

"You assume the other half-cent would be close," Ziegenhorn said, "but it's never, ever the same."