Russell City Council Gives Approval to City Staff to Submit Kansas Water Office Water Projects Grant Application

The Russell City Council met Tuesday and gave the approval to City staff to submit a Kansas Water Office Water Projects Grant application for funding of the Cindy Drive lift station replacement.

According to City staff, in 2023, Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature, through Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302, increased the amount of state funding for the State Water Plan Fund. Its provisions included the creation of two new water-related grant funds: the Technical Assistance Grant Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund.

The two grant funds serve to help identified Kansas entities to obtain the up-front technical assistance and the on-the-ground actions needed to address various water quantity and quality needs. The two funds are generally directed to supporting water-related infrastructure activities.

According to City staff, the Water Projects Fund Grants provide funding for construction, repair, maintenance or replacement of water related infrastructures and related construction costs. Eligible applicants include municipalities with an approved water conservation plan and special districts related to water organized under the laws of Kansas. There are no matching funds required to be eligible for the grant, however, the City plans fund the preliminary engineering portion of the project. This will show willingness to contribute and also because this portion is not an eligible cost for the grant.

City staff plans to apply for the Water Projects Grant to help fund the replacement of the Cindy Drive lift station.

Constructed in 1974, this lift station with a wet well and dry well configuration has served the community for 50 years. Due to its age, the safety of employees and the availability of replacement parts it is in need of replacement. The new lift station would have a new wet well with submersible pumps and an above ground control structure for safety and reliability.

The Cindy Drive lift station replacement project cost estimate from Professional Engineering Consultants is $445,500. Property acquisition is not expected to be applicable to this project and the preliminary engineering will be paid by the City utilizing wastewater reserves. This brings the grant request to $396,000.

Also Tuesday, the Council approved a permit for Russell Celebrations to hold a public fireworks display October 4 with an alternate date of October 18 and authorized the Fire Chief to cancel or suspend the display due to weather conditions.

Russell Celebrations submitted the application to hold a public fireworks display during the Russell High School Homecoming football game.

(Information courtesy City of Russell.)