5-4-10 —     Thursday, April 22 was Earth Day and it seemed like the perfect time for

USDA officials, who were visiting Wayne County, to announce funding for a

project that has environmental impact on the local community.

    Monticello has been awarded a total of $7.1 million to upgrade the

wastewater treatment plant.

    Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development, officially announced the

funding during a gathering at the ASPIRE Center last Thursday morning.

    "Earth Day calls on all of us to do our part to create a cleaner, safer

environment and today we celebrate a project that will produce a cleaner,

safer wastewater collection system for the residents of Wayne County," said

Fern. "The many upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant will improve

residents' health and wellness and the overall quality of life."

    The upgrade will increase the plant's capacity from 700,000 gallons per

day to 1.4 million gallons per day. Additionally, other improvements will be

made to the treatment processes to ensure that the plant meets the new

Kentucky Pollution Discharge Elimination System requirements for phosphorous

removal. Proposed modifications to the plant also could improve the water

quality of nearby Elk Spring Creek.

    The current plant has been in use since 1987 and operates at a capacity

of 58 percent. Upgrades to the facility include removal of the existing

chlorine contact basin and the installation of a new ultraviolet

disinfection system. Two additional sludge holding basins also will be

constructed to improve sludge handling.

    Rural Development is providing the City of Monticello with a

low-interest loan in the amount of $4.984 million and a grant for $2.136

million to fund improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. Additional

funding sources include a $1.5 million grant from the Economic Development

Administration, that is pending.

    Fern had words of thanks to local officials who attended the ceremony

last week, noting that they have been great partners to work with over the

years. He noted that the Empowerment Zone designation, which included a

portion of Wayne County, and its "everlasting impact on jobs and the future

standard of living."

    "You are doing a wonderful job and we are so happy that we could be a

part of this," said Fern.

    Following the official ceremony, Fern and other USDA officials joined

Mayor Kenneth Catron in planting two redbud trees outside the ASPIRE Center