Boucher visits for kickoff of sewer project

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
BAPTIST VALLEY – A few years after public water made its way to this part of Tazewell County, officials gathered to break ground for sewer.
Congressman Rick Boucher joined state and local leaders at Central Church of Christ to officially begin the Baptist Valley Sewer Project. The project will serve the Adria and Baptist Valley communities including route 16 to Route 635, Mundytown, and Route 631 to Rose Lumber.
The project will serve 711 residential connections and will cost $10.2 million. 105,000 linear feet of 10, eight, and four inch gravity and force sewer line and three pump stations will be installed as part of the project.
Officials with Garney Construction and Thompson & Litton Engineering estimate the project will take 18 months to complete. Boucher said he hoped to be back in 18 months to mark completion of the project.
He said the sewer system will enable the area to grow and will also aid in eliminating contamination of the Clinch River from failing septic systems. The congressman said more than $4 million in funding for the project came from the federal stimulus package.
In addition to those funds the Virginia General Assembly provided two grants totaling $200,000 and the county contributed $450,000. Rural Development loaned the county $4.6 million for 20 years at zero interest.
The Southeast Rural Community Assistance program provided $50,000 to help with the project. Supervisor Seth White, who pastors a church just a few miles from where the project is ending, prayed that it would be completed on time and on budget.
White later said he hoped the next phase would get funding and the service could be extended. Boucher praised the local board for having projects ready to take advantage of the stimulus funding.
He also thanked PSA Member Rhudy Keith who represents the area and also praised the work of Baptist Valley resident Sonny rose in keeping the project on the front burner.
The project will utilize the sewerage treatment facilities of the town of Tazewell and council members David Fox, Don Buchanan, Danny Willis and Town Manager Jerry Wood took part in the ceremony.
Boucher and County Administrator Jim Spencer both pointed out the work of County Attorney Eric Young and PSA Comptroller Dahmon Ball in obtaining the 600 plus easements needed for the project.