Leesburg and Claypool each were awarded $1 million for storm water improvement projects recently.
Wednesday, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announced 21 communities will receive $20,116,869 made available through a federal grant.
In a conference call Wednesday, Skillman noted the trouble small towns with outdated storm drain systems have recovering from severe storms."I visited six of these communities and saw firsthand the devastation. The damage these storms caused are often hardest on small cities and towns," said Skillman. "In these tough economic times, it is critical to leverage all of the resources we can to help stimulate economic growth in communities that were affected by natural disasters."
In Leesburg, Street Commissioner Ed Riordan said the town will use its grant to replace storm drains and catch basins and underground lines.
"We've had problems on Canal, Prairie and Van Buren (streets)," said Riordan. "There are antiquated and small catch basins that need to be replaced. And the main line is made out of clay tile."
Riordan said Dave Holsclaw, of Nuell Inc., Ray Doss, of Frontline Manufacturing, along with Leesburg resident Sue Charlton wrote letters to help the grant progress.
Riordan said the communities' proactive attitude, along with work by clerk-treasurer Melissa Robinson and resident Jim Joyce led to the grant being awarded.
"Had it not been for that we wouldn't have gotten the grant," said Riordan.
In Claypool, Town Council President Don Miller said the money they received will be used to replace old, undersized and broken water lines in the downtown area.
Miller said the town also will replace all water meters. The new meters will remove the possibility of manual error.
Claypool didn't experience flooding like Leesburg, but a line did spring a leak that actually wasn't found until the day before the town received its grant.
The grant process for the town was nearly 18 months, and the money is expected to be made available by the fall.
