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Lowndes County Unincorporated Wastewater Program President Carmelita Arnold petitioned County Commissioners Monday, requesting their help to continue the work of mitigating wastewater disposal obstacles for area residents.

At the commission’s March 24 meeting, Arnold said the board, tasked with acting on behalf of the county to help residents receive properly-working sewage disposal systems, was operating without funding and could not currently meet its financial obligations.

“We have six sites which are ready for bids from installers,” Arnold said. “There are six more waiting for permit approval, which will be added to the list soon. Our current financial situation does not support hiring anyone for installing any of [the systems].”

The program received a grant award of $1.5 million from the Alabama Department of Public Health in 2024 to fund septic system installations. The program applied for and received expense reimbursement from the grant through December, but Arnold said no other payout has been made since then.

Commissioner Dickson Farrior asked Arnold to explain how much grant funding the program has drawn down to date. She indicated that, while she could not recall during the meeting, she thought that number was around $300,000.

“The first invoice I sent was for $18,000, and then about $24,000 and then another $29,000,” Arnold said. “Then I think I had about $15,000 one month because I was not reimbursed, and I got $14,000 another month for the same reason… because [ADPH] submitted them late.”

The grant, Arnold clarified, requires the program first incur permitted expenses, then request reimbursement for the money already spent.

“My understanding of the grant is you can’t receive any money until you do work and turn [in] the paperwork,” Arnold said. “Then they will reimburse you. Our January invoice has not been paid. We are only paid up to December and we’re going into April.”

Arnold asked commissioners for a loan of $50,000 to cover operating expenses. Commissioner Robert Harris questioned how that arrangement might work.

“You said that you are in need of about $50,000 to continue the program,” Harris said. “Then you would reimburse the county the $50,000 at a later time? So, with your grant disbursements, would it exceed the $50,000 so y’all can continue to maintain [operations] like a revolving loan?”

The requested assistance would enable the LCUWP to catch up on current obligations and proceed with the 12 needed septic system installations, Arnold told commissioners.

“We still have one installation that hasn’t been completely paid for,” she said. “We have monthly bills, overhead like cell phone, internet… insurance. Then we have payroll for three people. We have consultant payments… Then we have the 12 installations.”

Lowndes County Attorney Prince Chestnut told commissioners he needed time to research the proposal and make sure the arrangements posed no legal concerns for the commission. A follow-up meeting to discuss his findings is set for Monday, March 31 at 6 p.m.