Butler Says Better Water System Needed in Obtaining New Industry, May 8, 1963, MDR
Mayor Robert Butler, guest of the Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting Tuesday, said he did not seek city office to preside over the demise of Marion. Mayor Butler said he was sure the four commissioners present at the meeting felt the same.
The newly seated mayor and commissioners were guests of the Chamber to form a liaison between the two organizations in their efforts to improve Marion. Mayor Butler and the commissioners were introduced by Chamber President Allen H. Booten who welcomed them and added that the Chamber was desirous of working with the council on any projects attempted.
In speaking of the downtown fire Monday night, the mayor said it was not only a personal disaster to the owners but also to the 50 or 60 employees. He added that it also meant resultant loss in sales tax to the city.
Mayor Butler said surely the people realize now how imperative it is to Marion to have more and larger water mains throughout the city. He said the lack of water pressure was a serious handicap in fighting the fire.
Water Pressure Low
The mayor said due to the cooperation of The Coal Belt Fire Fighters Association, Marion had all of the men and fire equipment needed but did not have sufficient water pressure.
He cited the plight of the snorkel truck from Mt. Vernon which could shoot water 300 feet under normal circumstances but at first was unable to reach the Cox building at the height of the fire. It was only after three lines were hooked to the truck that the snorkel was able to shoot water one-third of the way north on the Cox building, Butler said.
The Mayor told of the city’s efforts during the past year to obtain a $544,000 grant from the government to make necessary improvements on the water system. He said organizations and the citizens in general should put enough pressure on their legislators in Washington to obtain the grant.
Butler said, however, the city would have to match the grant. He said this would have to be done with revenue bonds but doubted if the bonds could be sold with the present water rate.
The Mayor said that Marion has one of the lowest if not the lowest water rate in the area.
The Mayor said there should be close liaison between the city officials and the Chamber of Commerce. He added that it will be difficult to entice new industry to Marion to create jobs unless an adequate water supply is available.
Butler concluded by saying the council was working together and that the council was thankful to have been the guests of the Chamber.
Commissioners present were Adolph Fluck, Dr. Everett E. Jeter, William (Bill) Harris and Lawrence Feurer.
Marion Gets $544,000 For Water Project, July 6, 1963, MDR
636 Man Months Of Labor Will Be Provided
Congressman Kenneth J. Gray, West Frankfort Democrat, announced this afternoon that Marion’s application for a $544,000 grant for water facility improvements has been approved.
Gray said in a telephone call to The Marion Daily Republican that approval by the Community facilities Administration of the Public Works Acceleration grant will provide 636 man months of labor employment.
Work will include extending lines and making other improvements. Total project cost will be $1,088,000. with the city paying the other half thru the sale of bonds.
The project will be placed under contract in the “very near future,” Gray said.
Employment in 120 Days
Under terms of the PWA act, onsite employment must begin 120 days after grant offer forms are received.
Approval comes about one month after a visit in Washington with Gray and other officials by Mayor Robert L. Butler, Commissioner Everett E. Jeter and Engineer Paul O. Hall. The project will include:
—A 500,000 gallon elevated steel water storage tank, pumping facilities, treatment plant and other work at the site of the existing water treatment plant.
—A 16-inch raw water line extending from the water treatment plant to the existing city lake, and a proposed raw water pumping station and related work at the site.
—21 water lines, including a loop around the Public Square.
“Tough Sledding”
Approval comes at least as a partial surprise. Gray had said previously that it would be “tough sledding” because of the number of applications and because of the many federal projects in Williamson County.
Butler said after the trip to Washington that there was a “50-50” chance.
The city had planned to reduce its application to $300,000 to increase the chances of approval but a formal reduced application was not made.
Butler pointed out that extensive expansion of service lines could not be undertaken without a new water line and storage tank.
The water plant is capable of handling three million gallons per day, but the present raw water line will carry only one million gallons to the plant. The present storage tank holds 150,000 gallons.
Need for better water service around the public square was emphasized during the May 6 fire when firemen were hampered in fighting the blaze that wiped out a block containing seven businesses.
Applied in September
Marion’s application was made in September. It was assigned a low priority number, but very little was heard about the application for months.
Marion’s City Council is expected to take immediate steps to get the improvement program under way. The project will be discussed at tonight’s Council meeting.
An improved water system is expected to make the city more desirable for industries seeking a new location.
Sen. Everett Dirksen assured the Marion Chamber of Commerce in May that he would do all he could to expepite a federal grant. He is Senate minority leader.
Butler said this afternoon that the Council had boon “optimistic, all things considered” about chances for approval.
He said that revenue bonds likely would be issued to pay the city’s share of the cost. This means that Marion’s part would be paid thru funds raised from the sale of water. There would be no increase In taxes, he said.
The mayor said there are “some spots where revenue might be raised,” thus making it unnecessary to increase water rates. “But it will be a tight squeeze.”
Butler added that the city will see if it can have its share trimmed down to $272,000—one-half the federal amount. He said the federal government pays two-thirds the amount in some areas, such as Southern Illinois.
“The city could get all the essential work done with $816,000.00,” the mayor said, and with such an arrangement water rates would not be increased.
City Advertises For Bids For Water Improvements, September 27, 1963, MDR
Federal Agency Authorizes City’s Action, $1 Million Program To Begin by First of Year
The City of Marion today advertised for bids for $1,089,000 water improvement projects, and construction will begin by the first of 1964 and possible in November or December.
Sealed bids will be received until 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23 for two separate contracts.
One consists of a raw water transmission main, pumping station, intake structure improvements, water main extensions and related work.
The other is for construction of a 500,000 gallon capacity elevated steel water storage tank, pumping facilities and related work.
Marion’s City Council agreed to accept bids after the Housing and Home Finance Agency, Chicago, which handles Public Works Acceleration grants, gave its authorization.
Gene Wells of Paul O. Hall & Associates, Marion, consulting engineers for the city, said that the city has not received forms on the grant offer but this is only a formality.
Wells said that the reasons the forms have not been sent is that the Chicago agency office is “covered up” with work. “It’s simply a matter of paper work.” he said.
Specifications Available
Specifications may be obtained at the engineers’ office here.
The city will receive $544,000 in the federal grant. Remainder of the funds for the projects will be raised thru issuing water revenue bonds locally.
Wells said there will be no immediate Council action when the bids are opened, as the bids will be analyzed and reported upon to the Chicago office.
The city has received a letter notifying it of the grant approved, and a project summary has been approved. The agency has okayed pre-bid documents. Grant offer forms will be signed by the agency and the city officials in accepting the grant for Marion.
On-site employment must begin 120 days after the city receives the grant offer. The projects are to be completed within 365 days.
26,615-Foot Line
The raw water line, 16 inches in diameter, will extend 26,615 feet, from the city lake to the treatment plant.
Marion’s present raw water line will be used until the new one is put into use but it may be abandoned after that.
Only one million gallons of water a day can be handled by the present raw water line. It is 14 in diameter from the lake to the pumping station and 10 inches the remainder of the distance.
The new line will carry 2,000 gallons per minute, or 2.88 million gallons per day with one pump operating. There will be two pumps, which will operate alternately. The storage tank will be located north of the existing water plant. Wells said it estimated that 454 man months of labor will be provided.
A man month is one man working one month.
The city is in the process of making arrangements for easements.
In addition to the raw water line, there will be 59,439 feet of 6-inch pipe, 4,147 feet of 8-inch lines, 6,480 feet of 10-inch lines and 21,304 feet of 12-inch lines.
(Extracted from three Marion Daily Republican articles from May, July and September, 1963)