Published: October 28, 2009 03:52 pm      

Georgetown receives $3.5 million in stimulus for sewer plant

Georgetown will receive a $3.5 million grant through federal stimulus funds to build a wastewater treatment facility, state and area officials announced today.

The town does not have a sewage plant and was facing higher rates to remain on New Albany's system for another five years.

The grant will enable Georgetown to get off New Albany's system, as its contract with the city for sewer service expired in February.

State Rep. Ed Clere is scheduled to hold a press conference with Georgetown Town Council President Billy Stewart today in New Albany.

Clere stated in a news release he's been seeking federal stimulus funding for the Georgetown plan for about six months.

"Georgetown will no longer have to depend on New Albany, and New Albany will be free to pursue economic development, which has been severely limited by a lack of available treatment capacity," Clere said.

As a result, Georgetown sewer bills are expected to remain at about $64 a month. Town leaders had predicted bills would increase to nearly $82 a month to cover the cost of debt service for financing a plant.

The state will distribute $125 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for wastewater and drinking water projects in Indiana. The money is being managed by the Indiana Finance Authority.

Read the Thursday edition of The Tribune and The Evening News for more details, or check www.newsandtribune.com