The City of Jamestown is seeking a one-and-a-half-million-dollar grant to help replace a critical piece of the city’s water infrastructure.
The city is applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help replace its primary water intake barge on Lake Cumberland.
The barge houses the pumps used to move raw water from the lake to Jamestown’s water treatment plant, where the water is treated before being distributed to customers.
The current metal structure has been in service for nearly 20 years and has developed significant corrosion and deterioration. The pumps have also experienced problems, including a major malfunction during the extreme cold this past winter.
Those problems aren’t entirely new. In February, Mayor Regena Hinton said the city was pursuing funding to address problems with its lake intake, while praising city employees who worked through the winter weather to keep the water system operating.
Plans call for replacing the aging metal barge with a new aluminum structure, along with new pumps and related operating equipment.
The total replacement project is estimated at just over 3.1 million dollars. That figure is also reflected in Kentucky Infrastructure Authority documents, which list Jamestown’s Water Treatment Plant Intake Replacement project at 3 million, 119 thousand dollars.
Earlier this year, the Jamestown City Council authorized Hinton to pursue approximately one-and-a-half-million dollars in low-interest financing. The city is now hoping the CDBG grant will cover the remaining cost — potentially allowing the project to be fully funded without requiring additional local money.
The Lake Cumberland Area Development District is assisting Jamestown with the grant application. As part of that process, a public hearing was held Wednesday afternoon.
Mayor Hinton says replacing the aging intake is an important project for the city, and explains the steps officials have taken in an effort to secure funding for the entire project.
The main intake was constructed when Lake Cumberland was lowered during repairs to Wolf Creek Dam and is located in deeper water, providing the city with a more reliable source of raw water.
Mayor Hinton pointed out this project is important for all customers of the Jamestown Water Department.
City officials are now awaiting word on whether the CDBG application will be approved.