Village Board continues water main improvements

The Village of Durand continues its attempt at aquiring funds to improve aging water supply lines within the village. At Monday's, Feb. 8, 2010 meeting, the board approved a resolution to seek a grant from DECO to help replace two blocks of water main on E. Washington St. from State St. to Mulvain St.

The grant will provide 75% of the money needed for the nearly $200,000 project. The improvement will also allow for increasing the size of the main from its current 4" capacity to an 8" pipe. The area has been the site of numerous watermain breaks over the past few years. The village expect to here the status of their grant application early this Summer.

Municipal Design and Engineering Services has been hired to oversee the grant process.

Federal Stimulas Money to aid Durand water projects

The Village of Durand recently received word that they would be receiving money from the Federal Stimulas Project in order to fund water improvements for the village. The package includes a 25% reimbursement for projects along with a "zero" percent interest rate for 20 years. Mondyay night (Dec. 28, 2009) the board voted to proceed with a North St. water main replacement project that will extend from Warren St. (on the west) to Mulvain St. (on the east). Cost of the project is $528,000.

The village also also awarded stimulas money to purchase and install water meters throughout the village. The cost of the meters, installation, electronic equipment to read the meters, software and training was $284,000. "This will allow residents a no cost opportunity to have water meters placed in their homes," village president Gary Haughton said. I have been for the installation of water meters, but the potential cost to have the residents either pay for the meters and/or installation kept me against the project.

"The plan is to continue with the current flat-rate billing for at least a year after all meters are installed," he continued. "This will help us determine the water rate and also provide a comparison bill for the residents. This way they can see the difference, if any, and perhaps make necessary repairs to reduce billing."

Currently the village's water revenues are ahead of expenses, so therefore there will not be a major need to increase revenues. However, while some residents (low water users) may experience a decrease in costs others residents may experience increases.

"Our goal is to keep rates as close to current rates as possible, but until water usage is actually metered the cost per gallon cannot be defined," Haughton said.