| | |
| |
Grant: $870,000 |
Outline of Need: Upper Leon Municipal Water District was created in 1961. The District's member cities consist of Gorman, Dublin, Hamilton, DeLeon and Comanche cities. The District has supplied their water needs since water treatment facilities were completed in 1969. The District also provides sewer services to residents in areas adjacent to Proctor Lake, their source water supply. The wastewater treatment plant is a "package" plant that was put into service in the mid-1970s. In February 2002, the District was issued a Notice of Violation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality based on an inspection of the plant. The wastewater treatment plant showed signs of excessive corrosion and deterioration, and the existing plant had exceeded its useful life. Severe corrosion and deterioration of plant components have impacted its ability to treat the incoming wastewater. The plant is nearly 30 years old with an original life of only 20 years. Currently, 63 residential homes are served by the plant. A new hospital is also being constructed west of Proctor Reservoir, which would be served by the District and further strain the wastewater treatment plant. This facility will serve the residents of Comanche and DeLeon. It is estimated that the hospital will have 34-38 beds and approximately 100 full time employees. In addition, the elimination of about 25 septic tanks will have a positive impact on the environment. |
How Rural Development Helped:
USDA Rural Development originally funded Upper Leon River Municipal Water District's construction of regional water treatment facilities and the District began its purposed mission to provide a safe and reliable water supply to its rural member cities, as well as individual commercial and residential establishments in the servicing area. Rural Development has also provided financing for the PAR Country Club, whose membership is composed from at least three surrounding counties. These regional/area joint ventures have helped provide needed stability in an otherwise uncertain Comanche County economic environment in addition to supporting the District's broader obligations of supplying water over a multi-county area.
The Results:
USDA Rural Development funding of this sewer treatment facility project provides affordable sewer service to the area. When implemented, the District will provide water and sewer service to the newly constructed hospital, Comanche County Medical Center.
Pictured, above: (L) Project sign outside the treatment plant. (R) Comanche County Commissioner Chris Biggs; Architect James Polkinghorn of Polkinghorn Group Architects, Inc.; Architect Scott Hibbs of Hibbs and Todd, Inc.; Project Engineer and ULRMWD Board Member Ben Evridge; Comanche County Commissioner Bobby Schuman; ULRMWD Board Member Everett Hightower; Comanche County Commissioner Garry Steele; James McGee, Representative from Senator John Cornyn's Office; Comanche County Judge James Arthur; ULRMWD Board Member Ed Logan; Mark Lundgren, District Manager, Congressman Charles Stenholm's Office; ULRMWD Board Member LaRue Cochran; Mary Graves, USDA Rural Development Community Development Specialist; CEO and Administrator Evan Moore of the Comanche County Consolidated Hospital District; Chief of Operations and Administrator Mike Hare of the Comanche County Consolidated Hospital District; Patricia Butler, USDA Rural Development Community Development Specialist; Margie Gleaton, USDA Rural Development Area Director; ULRMWD Board Member Dale Curb; USDA Rural Development Texas State Director Bryan Daniel; ULRMWD Board Member Darrel Hirst; ULRMWD Board Chairman Gyale Pirkle; ULRMWD Board Member B.N. McDaniel; ULRMWD Board Manager Gary Lacy; ULRMWD Board Member Bob Huddleston. (C) USDA Rural Development Texas State Director Bryan Daniel ULRMWD Board President Gyale Pirkle holding the ceremonial check for the Upper Leon Regional Municipal Water District.
|
