32 Surveys Need to Proceed on Water Grant

LATHROP, MO — The City of Lathrop and Mo-Kan Regional Council have pled with rural Lathrop water customers to complete a survey that would indicate eligibility for a grant to  improve Lathrop’s water distribution system. Customers south of Lathrop on the Kansas City water line received the survey that is required to measure median household income. A total of 32 more survey respondents are needed to help complete the grant process. The Water Committee met Feb. 13, 2013, to review the city infrastructure needs as part of the ongoing effort. Originally appointed as the Water System Improvement Advisory Board in the Fall of 2011, the group identified inadequacies and failings of Lathrop’s nearly 100 year old water system. Recommendations led to the passage of a $4 million dollar bond issue in April 2012. Since that time, efforts to qualify for Community Development Block Grants have been stymied by a lack of response to customer surveys. Waiting to move forward are plans to construct a 300,000 gallon water tower to meet capacity requirements, and replacement of approximately 22,000 feet of water lines that are 4” or smaller.