Posted on Wed, Mar. 17, 2004

Grant would mean new pipes at Riverview

Some Phenix City residents get water in their homes from 85-year-old water lines.

The City Council and utilities department is hoping to change that.

At its meeting Tuesday, the council approved an application for a Community Development Block Grant that would bring $500,000 to the city to replace the cast iron water pipes around Riverview Apartments and along North and South Railroad streets. The council would match the grant with $935,443.11 to complete the projects.

"They're part of the oldest lines in the city," said utilities director Greg Glass. "They're heavily corroded and blocked with iron and magnesium buildup."

Glass said the city is optimistic it will receive the grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs because the replacements are urgently needed and the pipes are in an 85 percent to 90 percent low and moderate income area.

The city has used similar grants in recent years to replace lines on Sandfort Road and Dillingham Street.

"We're hoping to implement an ongoing program of infrastructure replacement," Glass said.

Tax abatement OK'd for machine works

The Phenix City Council approved a tax abatement for a new business coming into the city at its meeting Tuesday.

Tri-City Machine Works, currently located in Smiths Station, will not have to pay most of its property taxes for five years, a savings of $15,000. All businesses must pay property taxes that go to the school system.

The company, to be located on Industrial Loop off of State Docks Road, will also save $7,650 from abatement of construction-related taxes and mortgage and recording taxes.

The new building will be a $300,000 investment into the city. The machine parts plant will employ six initially, but increase to 15 over the next three years. The payroll by the third year is projected to reach $286,000.

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Contact Erin Simpson at (706) 571-8586 or esimpson@ledger-enquirer.com