SPOTSWOOD Aiming to finance water system and infrastructure improvements, the Borough Council approved a resolution to apply for a USDA loan/grant program.
“The borough’s distribution system within the Cottage Streets area, the installation of which dates to 1937, has experienced numerous main breaks over the years. Main breaks represent structural failure of the pipe due to excessive loads, undermining of pipe bedding, contact with other structures, corrosion, pressure surges or a combination of these conditions,” Borough Administrator Dawn McDonald said.
The council passed the resolution authorizing the borough to apply for the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Loan/Grant program to fund water distribution system and infrastructure improvements for the Cottage Streets area on Dec. 4.
According to McDonald, the Cottage Streets area is located off of Mundy Avenue near the lake and includes Brookwood, Woodland, Landvale, Brooklawn and Red Bank roads.
“The improvements to the water distribution system will include the installation of approximately 4,000 linear feet [LF] of 8-inch CLDIP [cement lined duct iron pipe] water main to replace the borough’s existing, unlined 4-inch and 6-inch cast iron distribution mains, including valves, fire hydrant assemblies and residential service connections from the water main to the curb stop,” McDonald said.
The administrator said residents who live in the Cottage Streets area have complained to the borough about water problems in the past.
“The sanitary sewer collection system improvements will include video inspection and cleaning of the existing mains, spot repairs, manhole replacements and sanitary sewer service connections,” McDonald said. “Following the improvements to the water and sanitary sewer system, roadway improvements will allow for the installation of approximately 4,000 LF of RCP pipe, 7,750 LF of concrete curb and full reconstruction of the roadways in the project area.”
According to McDonald, the estimated cost for the improvements is $3,507,474.
The USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Loan/Grant program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas, according to McDonald. Funds can be used to purchase, construct and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses, she said.
“While searching for grants to assist with our lake dredging I came across this program, which another community our size had utilized. Realizing that our community is in dire need of infrastructure repairs, to accomplish this would take some time with our current method of financing projects,” Mayor Edward Seely said.
“After reading the requirements and seeing the benefit to accomplish a larger scale project with an extended term, lower interest, as well as the possibility of forgiveness of some of the debt, this seemed like a no brainer, so I spoke with our borough engineer and the rest of the council and we agreed to move forward. It is great to know there are opportunities like this available to communities like ours. I hope others read and take advantage of the same,” Seely added.
The borough will not know the specific financials until the USDA reviews the application. Funding is provided through a competitive process with a priority point system based on population and median household income, according to McDonald.
Currently, the borough has submitted its application and is providing supplementary information to the USDA upon request as they continue their review of the application, according to McDonald.
“The loan/grant review process is ongoing, but we anticipate a response within a few months,” McDonald said.
For more information, visit www.spotswoodboro.com/agenda12042017.html.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
