Groundbreaking for the Woodlawn Wastewater Project

Woodlawn, Virginia

December 9, 2008

           I am pleased to return this afternoon to mark the start of construction on a new wastewater system which will significantly improve the quality of life for the residents of this community. Today we break ground on a new wastewater system along the Route 58 corridor west of Interstate 77 in Carroll County. The new system will provide wastewater service for the first time to more than 155 households, businesses and schools and will enable new residential and commercial growth in Carroll County.

          Safe and reliable wastewater systems are essential to maintaining Southwest Virginia's excellent quality of life and critical to meeting our economic development goals for the region. For these reasons, I work actively with local governments to secure the funding necessary to construct and improve the region's wastewater infrastructure.

          In July 2007, I joined with many of you who are gathered today to celebrate the completion of an agreement between Carroll County and the City of Galax to allow the treatment of wastewater generated by this project to be treated at the Galax Wastewater Treatment Plant. As a result of this agreement, today we mark the start of construction on a new wastewater system which will serve more than 155 households, businesses and schools. The construction of this project will also allow for future expansion of Carroll County's wastewater infrastructure to serve new industrial and commercial sites such as the Wildwood Property, located at Exit 19 of Interstate 77, and will be vital to continued economic growth in Carroll County and the City of Galax.

          Many of the residents and businesses along the western portion of Route 58 in Carroll County currently do not have access to public wastewater service and must rely on private septic systems.  The new wastewater system will provide more reliable wastewater service to these residents and allow for growth in the number of businesses and residents in the area. 

          The total cost of the project is $5,261,000, all of which is being provided through federal funding sources by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency. The Rural Development Agency, at my urging, has provided a total of $5,261,000. Of that amount, $2 million has been provided as a federal grant, and $3,261,000 has been provided as a low-interest, federal loan.

          As part of the project, more than seven miles of wastewater line will be installed along the Route 58 corridor, and two pump stations will be constructed in Carroll County.  From the Exit 14 interchange of Interstate 77, the line will be installed through the Woodlawn community to the Gladeville area, where it will be connected to the City of Galax wastewater system. The wastewater will then flow to the Galax Wastewater Treatment Plant.

          There are several individuals who deserve our thanks today for the efforts they have made on behalf of this project.

          I want to express my appreciation to Travis Jackson, Area Director for the Rural Development Agency, for his outstanding assistance.

          David Hutchins and Tom Littrell, who serve on the Carroll County Board of Supervisors and both represent the portion of the county that will be served by the new system for the leadership they have provided on this project.  It is also appropriate to mention that David Hutchins also serves as Chair of the Carroll County Public Service Authority.

          I also want to commend Sam Dickson, Chair of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors the other Board members for their support.                 

          Gary Larrowe, Carroll County Administrator for his effective work in aid of this project.

          Ronald Newman, Executive Director of the Carroll County PSA, and the members of the Carroll County PSA for their assistance.

          I also wish to thank C.M. Mitchell, Mayor of the City of Galax and the City Council for their support of this very important regional project.

          I want to recognize the work that John Adams and Kevin Heath from Adams-Heath Engineering for the work they have performed for the localities on this project.

          Finally, I would like to thank my Project Manager Derek Lyall for his efforts to expand the availability of water and wastewater services across this Congressional District.

Again, I congratulate the leaders of Carroll County on the start of construction on the new wastewater system, and I look forward to working with them in the future as we continue to expand the availability of water and wastewater services in our region.