Sabine River Authority Gives Grant Help To West Tawakoni

The City of West Tawakoni made significant improvements to its wastewater system with the help of one grant program.

Now, a different grant is going to lessen the city’s out-of-pocket expense for the project.

Last week, the Sabine River Authority (SRA) presented a $10,000 check to the city as part of its Community Assistance Grant program. It will offset most of the $12,500 West Tawakoni had to use as a matching fund for its $250,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in 2006.

"We got an awful lot of good out of it," city administrator Cloy Richards said about the CDBG money.

In all, seven wastewater system lift stations on the south side of the city were outfitted with new pumps and the capacity level on some of those was increased.

In addition, the old pumps can serve as backups, Richards said.

"When one fails, as they eventually will do, we get a further benefit from this grant by being able to keep the old pumps to go back in if needed," he said.

Richards said the SRA had no problem with providing further financial assistance for a project that will have a positive effect on the Sabine River watershed.

"This was a good fit for their projects. Because we discharge into the lake (Tawakoni), whatever we can do to improve our wastewater system is going to result in a cleaner lake," Richards said.

"We are always interested in helping cities and utility corporations improve their wastewater system," Randy Traylor, manager of the SRA’s Iron Bridge Division, said in making the check presentation to Richards.

"We appreciate the City of West Tawakoni being proactive about it and doing something to improve the quality of life for its residents," Traylor added.

"We appreciate SRA’s assistance in partnering with us for this project," West Tawakoni Mayor Pete Yoho said in a prepared statement.

The SRA Community Assistance Grant program makes up to four awards quarterly to cities, counties, special utility districts and municipal utility districts, councils of governments or non-profit, member-owned water supply corporations located within the Sabine River Basin of Texas.

Funds provided for the program must fall within four project categories, those being water supply, wastewater management, water conservation and water quality. The maximum award per project is $10,000.

The Sabine River Basin includes all or part of 21 counties according to the United States 2000 Census.