Royal City to replace water lines, tackle other projects

ROYAL CITY — Royal City officials will apply for funding to replace water lines in the original part of town, which is among the major items included in the city’s 2021 budget and approved by council members at the Dec. 1 meeting.

Royal City mayor Kent Anderson said water lines in the older part of town are showing their age.

“They put in steel water lines. And they were used,” Anderson said. “They really held up well.”

But the system is past its projected life span and city maintenance crews have had to fix a number of leaks.

Estimated cost of the water line replacement is about $2 million, Anderson said, but city crews can do part of the work, which may affect the project cost. In 2021, the city will have a study to determine which parts of the project will require an outside contractor. Construction is expected to start in 2022 at the earliest.

In the meantime, city officials are updating the municipal water system plan. The 2021 budget includes money for GIS (geographic information system) technology, a requirement before the city can apply for grants or loans.

Total expenses in the water fund are projected to be $580,334. Since revenues are projected to be $560,075, city officials will use about $20,000 of the water fund reserve.

City officials also have applied for a $500,00 grant to expand Lions Park. Anderson said the grant recipients will be announced in July 2021.

“I think we’re right on the border whether we’ll be accepted or not,” he said.

The city also has set aside $250,000 for park improvements.

City officials purchased property adjacent to the existing park in 2018 with the intention to expand. The current park borders on Camelia Street Northwest, and the expansion will extend it to Acacia Street West. Anderson said the improvements, when they’re completed, will more than triple the park’s size.

The 2021 budget proposes $2.89 million in total expenses. Of that, $979,179 is current expense, which includes the Royal City Police Department, city administration, the finance department, parks, planning and building.

General fund expenses are projected to be about $20,000 higher than revenues.