Blue Ridge Approves New Water Tank

The Blue Ridge City Council passed a resolution last week to approve and designate the location of the Sunset Mountain Water Tank. During last week’s workshop, council reviewed a two-page document from City Attorney David Syfan regarding the tank’s location and size. The project will replace the existing 500,000 gallon tank with a 1 million gallon tank, located west of Highway 515 near the school zone in Blue Ridge. Council Member Michael Eaton said the decision to increase the size of the tank was based on need. The project began in 2006. Last week’s decision, though, heralds in the final leg of the years-long project.

In a conversation with FYN today, Water and Sewer Commissioner Rodney Kendall explained the finances of the project. The $17 million project will have two sources of funding. According to Kendall, $4 million will come from a grant and the rest will come from a loan from the Department of Rural Development, a division of the USDA. He explained, though, the city is in the process of securing interim funding through a $1 million loan, which will cover the project until the middle of the year. Kendall said he anticipates the city to bid out the project by mid-year, after which time a Rural Development loan will cover the rest of the project.

The completion of the project is expected in 2014.