Apr. 11--TAZEWELL, Va. -- A long-planned sewer project for Tazewell County could be in line for $4 million in federal stimulus funds.

The Department of Environmental Quality has listed the county's Public Service Authority as a potential recipient of $4 million in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. While the announcement does not guarantee funding, the authority's ranking is promising news, Tazewell County Administrator Jim Spencer said.

However, the federal funding award is contingent upon the PSA obtaining necessary right of way easements for the Baptist Valley East Phase I Sewer Project. And the authority must receive those easements soon. The large-scale project will serve more than 700 families in the Baptist Valley community, and will solve a decades-old public health concern for the community.

"I've been with the PSA since 1992," Spencer said. "One of the first things we did when I got here was talk about the need for water and sewer in Baptist Valley. We addressed the need for water. But we've never had this kind of opportunity to get this kind of grant money for sewer."

If the authority doesn't secure the necessary easements from property owners, there may not be another opportunity to secure $4 million in federal grant funding for the project, Spencer said.

"It' not a done deal, but if we don't get the easements and all of that stuff, it can break the deal," Spencer said "This is just crucial. We owe it to the people of Baptist Valley to get those easements through. There will be a mailing that goes out probably today to all of the folks we need easements from."

Spencer said two public meetings will be held at the PSA office conference room on Friday and Saturday, April 17th and April 18th, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to meet with property owners. The PSA office is located at the Tazewell Mall, near Magic Mart.

Spencer said staff will be available at the meeting to go over the project on an individual basis with property owners and locate sewer line easement areas. The PSA will be entering into easement agreements on site. Spencer said the process should take property owners only a few minutes to complete.

"It should be just a matter of a few minutes of sitting down and talking to them about the easements," Spencer said. "It's sort of like a floating meeting. They can come in at any time during the day."

Spencer said the PSA must obtain the easements soon. He said the state Water Control Board will be voting on the projects being considered for federal stimulus funds later this month.

Spencer said property owners in the area should be receiving a letter letting them know if the proposed sewer lines will cross their property, and if an easement is required. Spencer said those who receive a letter are urged to contact the PSA at (276) 988-1704 or attend one of the two scheduled meetings.

-- Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

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