LINCOLN, NEB. (February 25, 2008)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to Republican City and Wymore to inspect and/or update and replace components of their water or wastewater systems.

Republican City will use its $250,000 CDBG funding to build a new municipal well and 100,000-gallon storage facility, and install a radio-read meter system. Currently Republican City has three functioning water wells. Its’ fourth well contains elevated concentrations of nitrate requiring an alternate source of water, which has put the community under a Nitrate Administrative Order issued by the Nebraska Health and Human Service System.”
 The new well will be built approximately 4-1/2 miles northeast of Well #4 and include backup power in case of emergencies involving power outages. The new storage tank will be constructed near the existing 40,000-gallon elevated storage tank. While a water main extension was completed on West Avenue and Pioneer Drive in 2001, the remaining cast iron distribution system dates back to the 1950s when the village was relocated to its present location. This system will be equipped with new water meters. Republican City also has applied for $1,108,040 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to complete the project.

Wymore will use its $250,000 CDBG funding to replace three lift stations in its collection system, and replace the lift station and final circular clarifier mechanism, improve the oxidation ditch, and install new piping, valves, and electrical system at its treatment plant. The community’s clay pipe sewers were first built around 1940, along with three lift stations located within the system, and a main lift station at the treatment plant. The wastewater treatment plant, built in 1972, uses an oxidation ditch and final clarifier, stabilizing sludge with lime, which is then disposed on agricultural land. Wymore also has applied for a $350,600 loan from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to complete the project.

Federal funds are made available to DED from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program to assist with the development of businesses and communities throughout the state. Funding requests for this program are administered by DED and are available to local governments and counties in Nebraska with populations less than 50,000.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it