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Athens County prioritizes $742,000 water‑tank rehab, seeks earmark and grant packaging
Summary
County water and sewer officials recommended a full $742,000 sandblast-and-paint rehabilitation for two tanks and a package of W&S capital projects for grants/earmarks; Board authorized an earmark service agreement and directed staff to prepare consolidated cost estimates with the county engineer.
Athens County’s water and sewer superintendent on Jan. 13 pressed for a full rehabilitation of two water tanks estimated at $742,000 and urged packaging that work with other treatment‑plant investments for competitive grant or congressional earmark funding.
Water & Sewer Supt. Oscar Carson described two options: a full sandblast and repainting for both tanks (engineering estimate about $742,000) and a lower‑cost appearance/pressure‑wash option (roughly $500,000) that the Board viewed as poor value because it would not address structural/long‑term needs. Carson said the department does not have funds on hand and recommended pursuing grants and earmarks rather than short‑term borrowing.
Commissioners directed staff to compile comprehensive cost estimates with county engineering (DLZ/Gary Silcott) covering full tank rehab, aeration system replacement and a sludge‑press plus heated enclosure and operations plan so the items could be bundled into a single infrastructure program for funding applications.
On the same agenda the Board authorized Commissioner Lenny Eliason to sign a Congressional Earmark Service Agreement with Merchant McIntyre Associates to pursue federal earmark funding. Staff noted congressional guidance: design activities and visible milestones should be underway before funds arrive; primary targets include Guysville and Stewart sewer planning/design, with the W&S tank system listed as a formal alternate.
Why it matters: The full tank rehab is estimated at about $742,000 and is coupled to other high‑cost plant needs (aeration, sludge management) that together could exceed available local resources. Bundling these projects can improve competitiveness for grants or earmarks but requires early engineering and clear O&M plans.
What's next: County engineering will produce consolidated cost estimates and scopes; the Board authorized pursuit of earmark opportunities and alternate funding paths. Bids for a separate Athens County HVAC improvements project were also authorized for advertisement at the meeting.
