By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday it will provide Landis more than $5 million to upgrade its aging water and sewer systems.
The town is in dire need of the improvements the funds can provide, Landis Mayor Dennis Brown said.
U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, a Republican whose district includes part of Rowan County, issued a statement that said the Department of Agriculture approved a loan of $2.9 million and a grant of $1 million from Rural Development funds to upgrade the town’s water system.
The agency also OK’d a loan of $917,000 and a grant of $557,000 in Rural Development money for the sewer system.
In addition to the $1 million Rural Utilities Service Direct Grant, the project will receive a $200,000 State and Tribal Assistance Grant.
The series of loans will be repaid over the next 40 years at an interest rate of 4.375 percent.
The town is under an administrative order to make improvements that will bring it in compliance with state laws.
“I think it’s vital to what the town faces for the next few years,” Brown said.
Landis will replace smaller water mains with 12-inch water mains, abandon old waterlines, install 109 isolation valves on fire hydrants, replace 19 fire hydrants and install two new booster pump stations for starters.
The Landis sewer system is 50 years old and suffers from excessive inflow and infiltration from deteriorated pipes. The funds allow the town to replace sewer mains, 64 existing manholes and two existing sewer lift stations.
Town Administrator Reed Linn said in a statement that Landis is ready to move forward now that the federal funds have been approved.
“We have already completed the necessary engineering on the water improvements and we will soon put the project out to bid,” Linn said.
Brown added that the town has been working with engineer Mike Acquesta to put together a construction schedule.
nnn
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.