Tunica County accepts USACE sewer grant; board approves project partnership agreement with 25% local match

County staff told supervisors the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared to award Project 5.92, a sewer-improvement grant that is structured as a 75% federal, 25% local match. The total project estimate presented to the board was about $2,800,000.

Staff explained that the county has existing matching capacity from a previously authorized cap loan through the Mississippi Development Authority and other grant funds; those sources can be applied to meet the required county match. "Between those two funding sources, we got more than enough to cover your 25% match," staff said.

Bill Lee (introduced to the board as present with "TCUD") described project elements: surveying and rehabbing gravity sewer lines and laterals, repairing manholes and lift stations, converting Dundee's underperforming mechanical wastewater plant to a lagoon to reduce operating and maintenance costs, and setting aside $400,000 for bank stabilization at the Moon Landing berm. Lee said the conversion to a lagoon would lower operating expenses and better accommodate variable flows, and estimated Newland has roughly 75 to 100 service connections while Dundee has about 35.

Chair called for a motion to enter into the project partnership agreement (agenda item 7). The board moved, seconded and approved the motion unanimously.

Supervisors were told the project will be subject to formal contract documents and that additional design and surveying will follow the agreement award. Staff said the cap loan and prior sewer-grant funds would be coordinated so county dollars would not be spent twice on the same scope.