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Photograph: District 40 Louisiana State Representative Dustin Miller.

BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer

Nearly $38 million from state funding has been earmarked for water and sewer improvements for the City of Opelousas and Sunset area, according to District 40 State Representative Dustin Miller.

Most of the three separate appropriations is dedicated to the City of Opelousas which has qualified for a $27.5 million loan provided by a Louisiana Department of Health revolving loan program, according to an Aug. 9 letter sent by LDH officials to the city administration.

Sunset and the Rural Water District No. 2, which supplies the town and adjoining areas, is scheduled to receive approximately $10 million for projects related to improving area water quality and sewerage treatment.

Miller said in a St. Landry Now.com telephone interview that LDH officials have begun targeting community water systems that are potentially in need of funding to create water system improvement projects.

In May the Opelousas water system received a final “D” letter grade following an evaluation based on a revised LDH grading system.

Opelousas qualified for participation in the revolving loan program after LDH officials reviewed a funding proposal and business plan sent to the department by city officials, the letter written by LDH Revolving Loan program manager Joel McKenzie indicates.

In the letter sent to the city administration, McKenzie wrote that the city intends to pay off the loan by using utility revenue bond payments over a maximum period of 32 years.

Miller said he understands that the loan will be used to construct a new citywide water plant. Additionally Miller said, there could be sufficient revenue within the loan structure to eventually assist with repairing city water lines.

Sunset Water Improvements
Miller said $10 million of state revenues will be dedicated to the Sunset area in order to assist separate projects in the town with water improvements.

The town is scheduled to receive about $4.47 million in grant funding.

Miller noted that $3.97 million will be used by the rural water district for sewer and water upgrades. The water district project will probably require 20 percent in matched funding, Miller said.

Miller, a member of the state water sector committee, said there is sufficient funding from federal and state sources to provide small towns with financing for water and sewer projects.

“Right now there are a lot of towns that are having issues with their water. The money is available, but it takes effort from state and local officials to receive the money that they need,” Miller added. 

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