Boucher assists in groundbreaking for Smyth Chapel water project 

By WALTER LITTRELL - KINGSPORT TIMES NEWS
Published Sunday, June 26, 2005

http://www.timesnews.net/article.dna?_StoryID=3517660

BEN HUR - Like 350 other soon-to-be customers of the Smyth Chapel/Miller's Chapel water project, Pennington Gap Town Manager Mark Smith knows the importance of a reliable, safe water source.

During a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Saturday, Smith, who lives "on Main Street of Long Hollow," recounted how he recently came home from a town council meeting to find out he was out of water. As the father of two children under age two, Smith said he is greatly appreciative of the work of any number of people involved in bringing the project to fruition. As a town manager, he added that he is looking forward to the future and a long-lasting relationship with the Lee County Public Service Authority in that and other projects.

Congressman Rick Boucher, the keynote speaker for the event, pointed out that just 10 years ago, only 44 percent of Lee County residents had access to public water service. Working with federal funding agencies, regional entities such as the Lenowisco Planning District Commission and on down to the local board of supervisors and the public service authority, Boucher said more than 67 percent of all Lee County homes now have public water.

That number will climb after this $4 million project is completed next spring, and when another $3.4 million worth of projects under development on Big Hill, in Cave Springs and Ocoonita are completed more than 70 percent of Lee Countians will be served by public water, he said.

"Our goal is to get public water to everybody, and we intend to meet that goal," said Boucher.

Funding for the Smyth Chapel/Miller's Chapel project came via a $2.1 million grant and a $1.4 million low-interest loan from the Rural Development Agency. The Appalachian Regional Commission provided another $500,000 grant to complete financing for the project.

"The new public water system for which we are breaking ground today will serve 350 households and four churches in the Smyth Chapel and Miller's Chapel communities. In addition, public water service will be established at the site of the new Wal-Mart store, which is under construction," said Boucher.

The Congressman noted that more than 25 miles of new water lines will be installed along State Routes 647, 641, 643 and 640. The new lines will be connected to the Pennington Gap water system and a 250,000-gallon storage tank will be built near the new Wal-Mart. The Lee County PSA will operate and maintain the system.

After commending all those involved in the project, Boucher said, "Today's ceremony is an example of what can be achieved when citizens and government officials at the local and federal levels work together in aid of a common purpose. For that cooperation and successful work in establishing public water service for the communities of Smyth Chapel and Miller's Chapel, I want to commend everyone here and offer special congratulations to the residents and business owners who will be receiving the new water service."