SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

MONTGOMERY-Three south-central Alabama towns will be able to schedule

improvements in public health and safety thanks to more than $940,000

in Community Development Block Grants awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley.

In Crenshaw County, Bentley awarded a $350,000 grant to Luverne to

upgrade water lines and streets and $250,000 to Dozier for water

improvements. He also awarded $342,210 to Hayneville, in Lowndes

County, to improve sewer services.

“Community Development Block Grants provide essential resources that

help Alabama counties, cities and towns address urgent public needs,”

Bentley said. “I am pleased to assist local officials with projects

that will improve life in their communities.”

Luverne will replace water lines in the southern end of the city where

25 percent of the water system’s leaks are said to originate due to

old, deteriorating pipes. New fire hydrants also will be installed and

streets will be resurfaced after new pipes are laid. The city is

providing $77,747 in local funding.

New water lines also will be installed in Dozier to improve water

quality and pressure and to enhance fire protection. More than 5,000

feet of new line will be installed on School, Main, Water and Tyner

streets, replacing old galvanized or cast-iron lines.

Hayneville will use its grant funding to replace sewer lines in the

eastern part of town. Deteriorated lines emit raw sewage into the

ground, and during rains ground water infiltrates the lines increasing

the amount of affluent that must be treated at the wastewater plant.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is

administering the awards from funds made available to the state by the

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Bentley notified Mayors Joe R. Sport of Luverne, Carlos “Buddy” Dean

of Dozier and Kevin J. Lawrence of Hayneville that the projects had

been funded.