With the Governors’ recent release of more state funds for the lake project in rural Sullivan county, the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission anticipates the money will help finish acquisition of the land for the East Locust Creek Reservoir project.
It also allows local officials to move forward with structure demolition, hazardous waste removal, lake bed clean up and other preparations. General Manager Brad Scott reports the one point seven million dollars will be used by the water commission toward a required “local match” in order to obtain six and a half million dollars of federal funds.
Scott noted there were six remaining parcels to be purchased; and the water commission didn’t have the funds to do so, without promised money coming from the state.
The $1,700,000 had been appropriated by the legislature with what Scott called support by State Representative Nate Walker of Kirksville and State Senator Dan Hegeman of Cosby and others. Scott recognized federal support from U-S Senators Blunt and McCaskill and Congressman Graves.
The federal sponsoring agency is the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
In July, with projected revenues, down according to the Governor, he withheld some 150 million dollars from the state budget. With October revenue projections improving, Governor Nixon released 12 million dollars including funds allocated for the lake north of Milan. Scott said the Governor and his administration have supported the north central Missouri project through two pieces of legislation signed into law and three appropriations.
When all the land has been purchased, Scott said the lake project enters a new realm and final financing plans will proceed. Once the permitting process isfinished, Scott stated efforts in coming years will proceed to construction.
