Residents in northern Scott Co. will have to wait on water district

Southeast Missourian

Scott County Public Water Supply District No. 4 is now another step closer to supplying water for some of county's southern residents. But northern Scott County residents may have a while to wait.

In July, Scott County Public Water Supply District No. 4 board of directors president Phil Lyon said he was confident that the district would become a reality, even though progress on forming the water system was slower than expected. Now the district board has applied for $4.8 million from USDA Rural Development to begin construction on a modified phase one of the project, which will provide a public water supply for the greater part of Scott County's southern half, Lyon said.

The phase one area was originally meant to include the county's entire southern section. At that time, the directors anticipated two construction phases splitting the county in half. Now Lyon says construction may take place in three phases.

Residents in the northern part will have to wait for phase one's completion for the water district to focus on their area.

"We have certain areas in the southern part of the county with an extremely high rate of sign-ups," Lyon said. "We felt like increasing the number of phases we'll allow us to get started quicker, and in the long run everyone will get water sooner."

Lyon said reducing the size of phase one construction will also keep costs down for residents in those parts of the county where less residents have signed up for service. He said the board still hopes for construction of phase one to begin some time next year. So far about 900 residences have signed up in the county's southern regions, said Lyon. About 600 of those users will be included in the revised phase one, he said.

Board member Dennis Meier of Kelso said the water district will forgo taking the $150 from northern county residents for now. However, those residents can still sign up now to hook on to the water supply when construction begins in the county's northern reaches.

"There is interest, and people are asking 'When are we going to get our water?'" said Meier. "Hopefully next summer we'll get started and make a better showing."

Board members admit that progress has been slower than they had initially anticipated, but they're still confident that interest amount northern county residents will remain strong, especially when those residents hear about construction beginning in the south.

Jamie Burger, county commissioner representing Scott County's northern half, said the $150 connection fee is still a deal for potential users. And he still receives frequent inquiries into the progress of constructing the water supply infrastructure.

The water supply district is not under the authority of the county government, but county commissioners advocated for the formation of the district, which was created by voters in April 2005. In November 2005 voters gave the district the authority to seek $25 million in low-interest loans through the USDA to fund the project.

"I've known all along that it's really going to happen, but people are skeptical of it," said Burger. "Once people start seeing pipe going in, they'll start to get excited."

Once all construction is complete, the district could serve 3,700 potential residences that currently don't have access to a public water supply.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182