 Students and citizens joined elected officials to celebrate improvements to the sewer system of the City of Science Hill in Pulaski County. Mayor Bill Dick hosted the event May 9 at Science Hill Independent School, and the speakers were Congressman Hal Rogers and Susan M. Toutant, Executive Liaison Officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“It is fitting that our young people are part of this celebration because better sewer service means a better future for them,” said Rogers, who secured the federal funding for the sewer improvements through Eastern Kentucky PRIDE and the Corps of Engineers.
“Expanding sewer service will lead to a cleaner environment, as well as economic development,” Rogers explained. “Public sewer is the most effective, reliable method for treating wastewater. That means peace of mind for the homeowners who connect to the system, and cleaner groundwater for the entire community. In addition, this improvement in the city’s infrastructure will be attractive to businesses. I commend Mayor Dick and the city council for making this investment.”
The city just finished extending sewer lines to 42 residential and commercial customers. At the ceremony, officials flipped a large switch to symbolize turning on the power at the two new lift stations that will transport the sewage to the city's treatment plant.
Ten more homes, along Frog Hollow Road and Frog Hollow Spur, soon will be added to the city’s sewer system with additional PRIDE funding awarded at the event. Congressman Rogers presented a ceremonial check for $130,000 to Mayor Dick.
In all, the city received $735,000 in PRIDE grants to fund the sewer improvements. The Corps of Engineers provided funding to assist with project design.
Eastern Kentucky PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. PRIDE was founded in 1997 by Rogers and the late James Bickford, former Secretary of Kentucky’s Environmental Protection Cabinet.
Since 1997, PRIDE has given more than 28,000 homes in the region access to sanitary wastewater treatment systems, through public sewer or septic systems.
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