Eight reasons to send the City of Huntingburg a letter before May 31

16” water main West of CR 75 E on East 1st St. This was in 2010. We had to replace 18’ of pipe and hire a contractor with a bigger trackhoe than we had to install it due to the weight of the pipe. The hole in picture was on the bottom of the pipe when we took out. This was not the only hole in that 18’ section. When it went it went so to speak. — This is a section of the 16-inch water main west of CR 75 E on East 1st St. from a 2010 failure. The city replaced 18 feet of pipe. This hole was on the bottom of the pipe and there were several holes in the section that was replaced.

The City of Huntingburg needs your letters to assist in an application for a $500,000 grant to repair a major waterline.

The city is applying for a $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to repair about 2700 feet of 16-inch iron and concrete-pipe. The grant application is due by May 31.

Here are eight reasons to send the city a letter before the end of this month.[hr]

One

This is a highly competitive grant and the grant applications are scored on several factors including public interest and support. Letters from the public are necessary to show that support.

Two

The line the city needs to repair provides up to 40 percent of the city’s water supply from the Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District. If there is a major break, it could not only affect the residents of Huntingburg but also a couple of the city’s largest employers.

Three

If the waterline is not repaired problems associated with the deterioration could cause the city’s ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating to be lowered. The city’s ISO rating is based on several weighted factors of which the city’s ability to fight fires is a major factor. A consistent pressurized water supply bears about 50 percent of scoring factor in keeping the ISO rating high. A drop in the ISO of the city could cause at least a 3 percent increase in insurance costs for all the residents and employers in the city and affect future businesses from locating here.

Four

This may be the last time this funding is available through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. According to Mayor Denny Spinner, they are changing the funding mechanism and they don’t know if the city will be eligible under the new guidelines.

Five

A major break in the line could greatly affect the ability of the city to provide water to all of its customers. Due to the line being placed in corrosive soil in the three areas they would like to replace, it isn’t a matter of “if” the line breaks, it is a matter of “when” the line breaks. If that break occurs during the peak usage times in the summer, the entire city could be placed on a boil order.

Six

During a 2010 routine flushing of the line, the higher pressure caused a break in the line that required 18 feet of line to be replaced. Since then the city has not flushed the line and this could affect the quality of the water over a period of time.

Seven

If the city has to pay for the repair out of the Water Utility’s repair and maintenance fund, it will nearly deplete that fund and likely lead to higher utility rates.

Eight

The last time the city applied for the grant they received a score of 370.97; the lowest funded score was 450.22. The letters from the public are essential for the city to be considered for the grant.[hr]

Courtesy of the City of Huntingburg. Click to enlarge the photo.

To be considered for the grant the city has committed a local match of $83,000 and has an additional $50,000 of economic development income tax (EDIT) committed to the project in the 2014 budget.

Besides letters of support from the public, the city can solicit up to $12,000 in local philanthropic support and the mayor reported that several citizens and businesses have stepped up to provide that support.

According to city officials, any letter of support will work fine to assist in the grant application. Those interested in assisting can drop the letter off at the city offices on Fourth Street or contact the city at 812-683-2211.