Officials hope DC visit nets funding

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Armed with presentations on the city’s needs, a delegation from Hartselle traveled to Washington, D.C. this week, hoping to get congressional representatives on board for an array of local projects.
Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley, council members Bill Smelser and Mark Mizell, Hartselle Utilities’ Ferrell Vest and Mike Gunter, Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan Hines, County Commissioner Ken Livingston, and community and economic leaders Johnny Howell, Bob Francis, Jeremy Nails and Dewayne Hellums left for Washington Tuesday. They returned on Thursday after having met with representatives Bud Cramer and Robert Aderholt and senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions.
Tankersley said the group presented each elected official with a packet of information on Hartselle projects. The top two objectives of the group are to receive funding for the continued widening of Highway 36 and for renovations to Hartselle Utilities’ existing wastewater treatment plant.
The Highway 36 project, much of which has been funded through other grant funds, needs additional money for the second phrase. That phase includes widening from I-65 to Roan Road. The third phase of the project includes connecting Hammitt Street Bridge to Highway 36 to create a northern bypass.
The wastewater project is part of a three-phase $8 million proposal to upgrade the existing plant. The upgrade would be the first major renovations in the last 20 years.
City leaders are hoping this trip is as successful as previous efforts.
In 2006, Hartselle received $1.3 million for Highway 36 widening an also received funds for the downtown canopy project. The city also received money for work at the airport and a $500,000 direct appropriation for development of the industrial park.