ORAN SEEKS GRANT FOR WATER LINE WORK

ORAN -- Oran Mayor Robert K. Dennis' main concern this year is getting a grant to fund new water lines and a well in Oran.

"Our main well is down. We're on a backup well and we have a lot of water breaks" with the pipes, said Dennis, mayor of this Scott County town of 1,162.

He estimated Oran's water lines were put in starting in 1937. The new lines will measure from two to eight inches in diameter, he said.

Dennis said the town will apply for about $500,000 for the work through the state's Community Development Block Grant program. In June, he said, he'll know whether Oran will get the grant.

Voters passed a bond issue in November to raise $110,000 in city money for the well, said Dennis. Renovation work was performed on the lagoon and lift stations about three years ago, he said.

Also planned this year is the remodeling of the former International Hat factory at Main and Haw streets, home now of Venture Products and Carr Sales, both small hat-production factories. The renovation will start in March and involve the installation of a new roof, work on the outside walls, and installation of air conditioning. Dennis estimated the work would run about $125,000.

Oran is turning the building over to Oran Industrial Development, which will have the work done. The building was turned over to the city about four years ago, he said.

Dennis said the city turned over the Oran Library at the first of the year to Riverside Regional Library. The city worked up a lease agreement with the regional library, he said.

"We've had it leased to them every year. This way they're going to have it for 10 years. We think they will keep it up to date and it will lower the taxes some here in town."

The library is beside city hall, which is at 120 East Railroad.

In 1991 a lot of work was done at the city water plant. It included replacing the high-service pumps, renovating the chlorine room, and replacing the air compressor, Dennis said.

"We just pretty much reworked the whole inside of the water plant: we redid the backup well, put new pipe in, a new pump, and all that." Dennis said the work at the plant, at South and Greer streets, was done pretty much over the course of the year.

The city bought a different police car, a 1985 Buick, in January, Dennis said. The city has the one police car, he said.

Dennis said the city had two miles of road blacktopped, including the road through the city park; put a new motor in its trash truck at a cost of about $6,700; and replaced the air compressor at city hall. Dennis said the blacktopping work was also done on parts of Missouri, Rose, Rosati, and Mountain and Walnut streets.

The city, as well, went along with its Park Committee in putting up a new fence around the ball diamond in city park, he said.

Dennis said the city will do more blacktopping this year, but he couldn't say at this time which streets will be done. The city is also considering buying a new tractor for grading work and brush-hogging.

Oran, incorporated in 1869, has five full-time employees. They are the chief of police, the city collector, and three employees who take care of the city's water, sewer and trash works. The city clerk is part-time, along with two police officers, Dennis said.

Eight aldermen serve on the Oran city board.