State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) announced today that the Village of Brocton located in Embarrass Township in Edgar County has been selected to receive a Community Block Grant in the amount of $1,020,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). This money will be used to replace old cast iron water lines that have been leaking approximately 147,000 gallons of water every month.
“I congratulate Mayor Chad Dudley and the Village of Brocton on being selected to receive this money from the state to help stop the waste of nearly 50,000 gallons of water each day,” said Rep. Niemerg. “This is the kind of State and local partnership and targeted investment that is good for the quality of water for the residents and will help save thousands in taxpayer dollars with a lower interest rate on money borrowed to upgrade the water system.”
The grant money from the state will help pay for the replacement of old cast iron pipes with new Schedule 80 PVC water lines. With an upgrade of their water lines, the Village of Brocton will be able to refinance their loan to update their Water Treatment Plant and lower the interest rate on the remaining $300 thousand loan balance from 3.5% down to only 1%.
Brocton is a small community located on Route 49 just five miles south of U.S. 36 and five miles north of Rute 133. It is home of the Brocton Springfest and Draft Horse Show that began back in 1988 with draft horses from all four breeds-Clydesdales, Shires, Belgians, and Percherons included in the annual competitions. Exhibitors come from Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Canada some years. Draft horses were once the backbone of the agriculture industry and an important part of the area’s heritage.
“A good source of water is important for the families and farmers in this community. Reducing waste keeps costs down and can be good for tourism and economic development,” added Rep. Niemerg.