By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Dec. 16, 2000
WAYNESBORO  Waynesboro officials received an early Christmas present this week when they learned the federal government has approved grants and loans totaling almost $1.2 million to replace a deteriorating sewer line.
The funding will come through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development. The city was approved for a loan of $422,000 and a grant of $742,000.
Wood said the money will be combined with a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant already received to fund replacement of one of the city's main sewer lines.
The Wayne County Board of Supervisors is building a new jail and sheriff's office and Wood said the line will be needed to serve the jail, scheduled to be complete in a few months.
Waynesboro is not the only area benefiting from the federal government's generosity this season. Russell Utilities in Lauderdale County also received a loan of more than $260,000 for a water improvement project.
Given recent growth in the Russell community, company officials said the money will be earmarked to keep pace with service demands.
Callens said the company will install a new pressure tank and repair an existing pressure tank, moves designed to expand services.
Rates in both places will increase slightly to help pay back the loan portions of the funding. Callens said the increase in Russell will be 25 cents per thousand gallons; Waynesboro officials are not yet sure how much rates will increase there.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.