$6 million water project moves ahead in Rayville

The Town of Rayville has awarded bids to begin Phase I of its $6 million water system improvement project.

Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis said Greenbriar Digging Service of Brookhaven, Miss., was awarded the low bid to begin replacing water lines in Rayville. Greenbriar Digging’s bid was $3,413,659.

“Usually it takes 90 to 180 days from the time the bids are accepted until the work begins,” Lewis said.

Improving the town’s water system has been a major goal of Lewis’ administration. He originally obtained the first $4 million in federal funding to begin the project in 2006.

The water system project is funded by $2,153,000 in USDA Rural Development loan funds and $1,651,000 in USDA Rural Development grant funds. The sewer system project is funded by $194,000 in USDA Rural Development loan funds.

The water system funds will be used by the Town of Rayville for Phase I of a two- phase upgrade to the existing Rayville water distribution system.

Phase I construction will include upgrades and related work west of Louisa Street. Phase I will complete approximately two-thirds of the upgrade to the water system, with the remaining to be completed in Phase II.

In another two-phase project, the town was to use USDA Rural Development funding to replace multiple sewer pumps. The replacement of these pumps is essential to bring the Town of Rayville into compliance with regulatory agencies.

Lewis and Rayville economic development director James Smith also worked to obtain the rest of the funding for these projects through other state and federal funds.

“We’ve been working on this a long time and it feels good to award the bids and know that the work will begin soon,” Lewis said.

He added that the work would be staggered so as to not disturb citizens more than necessary.

“We’re going to try to do one area at a time and not inconvenience people by having all the streets torn up at the same time,” Lewis said.

Meanwhile, he said, work is also ongoing this week to upgrade the town’s water plant. Also funded by a $200,000 grant, this work to improve the tanks and pumping station is aimed at providing citizens with better service.