Published: June 27, 2008 09:59 am      

Rusk well finished, next leg of project continues

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The city of Rusk’s new water well is finished. Now city officials are concentrating on getting the rest of the project done.

The city drilled the 250-gallon-a-minute capacity well to update and expand the water system. City crews are in the process of laying the water line to hook the new well to the city’s existing system. The next big step in the project is the construction of the 200,000-gallon ground storage tank

“We’re about two-thirds or more finished with laying the new lines,” Rusk City Manager Mike Murray said. “Finish date for the whole project — getting the well fully operational and servicing residents — should be November.”

Murray said the well’s placement contributed to some minor problems with getting electricity to the site.

“The terrain was the biggest problem,” he said. “There are so many depressions and valleys, it was really difficult to stay on the city’s right-of-way for some of the water and electric lines. Fortunately, the property owner was kind enough to grant us an easement, so it worked out.”

Crews from Duplichain Contractors, an Alto company, are building the well’s out-buildings this week, so there should be no delay in getting the electricity hooked up when the buildings are finished, Murray said.

The city received authorization from the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District in November 2007 to move forward with the project.

The well and tank will be able to better serve homes on the south side of Rusk, as well as the high school and junior high school campuses. The well will also serve as backup for residences on the east side of town.

“This is a project that the city will continue to be able to build from, once it’s complete,” said project architect Allen Ross, of Schaumburg & Polk Inc.

Drilling started in February at the site, located on the Atoy Highway, just south of Rusk. Water lines were installed along that road in April. Crews continue to lay new 10-inch water lines along U.S. Highway 84 East.

Joe Williamson, a resident along Highway 84, said he’s pleased enough to see the work and doesn’t mind the mess the project is making of his yard.

“Every time the electricity goes out, the water goes out over here,” he said. “They said the water tower would help, but it hadn’t made much difference that I can see. Hopefully this will do it.”

Murray said the job calls for construction crews to smooth peoples’ yards and plant grass after the pipes are covered and the job is complete.

“We ask that home owners will be patient with us while we complete this project,” Murray said. “We’re not going to leave anyone’s yard in a mess.”