By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

Hayneville is one of three South Central Alabama towns, which will be able to schedule improvements in public health and safety thanks to more than $940,000 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) reported Thursday that the governor awarded $342,210 to Hayneville in Lowndes County to improve sewer services.

He also awarded $350,000 to Luverne to upgrade water lines and streets and $250,000 in Dozier for water improvements.

“Community Development Block Grants provide essential resources that help Alabama counties, cities and town address urgent public needs,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to assist local officials with projects that will improve life in their communities.”

According to ADECA Hayneville will use its grant funding to replace sewer lines in the eastern part of town.

Hayneville Mayor Kelvin J. Lawrence said, “We applied for a grant back in August. We’ve been having several issues with storm water infiltrating our system, especially when it rains, causing the lagoon system to actually malfunction.”

He said it would be expensive to repair the lines due to their age and would place a financial burden on the town.

Lawrence said, “We got the news yesterday that we were awarded the grant so that’s great news for us so we can replace the lines and put new man holes in so we can do a better job as far as inspecting.”

ADECA is administering the awards from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Bentley notified Lawrence and the mayors of Luverne and Dozier that the projects had been funded.