Grant funding to help provide infrastructure improvements in Bull Creek

The Village of Bull Creek recently received the good news that a Community Development Block Grant proposal has been approved, which will allow for a secondary well for the municipal water supply. This new addition will help alleviate difficulties experienced when flooding or other situations impact the system or require shutting down the main well for repairs. 

Bull Creek Village Clerk Aaron Durso announced the approval of $914,000 in grant funding at a meeting on Monday evening, August 25. In addition to Durso, Village council members, City Attorney Tom Motley, and Bull Creek Water Operator James Felton were on hand for questions. 

“Most people don’t think about water and sewer infrastructure until something goes wrong,” shared Felton. “All of us just want to be able to turn the faucet handle and get clean, safe water.” Commenting on the need for the secondary well, Felton explained that smaller municipalities are subject to the same DNR regulations as larger cities—but must accomplish them with a much smaller tax base, making grant funds a real blessing. 

District 33 Missouri Senator Brad Hudson stated that writing a recommendation letter for the project was one of his first projects after taking office last January. “I serve the best district in the state, because of the great people,” he said. “My first priority, of course, is to protect the rights of citizens; but I also want to help communities navigate state procedures to access the resources they need.” 

Daniel Seitz, speaking for District 156 Representative Brian Seitz, expressed similar dedication to the concerns of communities. Also on hand at the meeting were members of the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments, a planning commission to assist local governments in 10 counties with the paperwork and procedures for grant applications and other details of state government interaction, and a representative from the administering Community Development Block Grant program of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. 

Village Clerk Durso also thanked TOTH Engineering, which originally prepared the project specifications to apply for ARPA funding following the Covid-19 pandemic. That funding did not work out because the matching fund requirements were simply not doable for many small communities, including Bull Creek. However, “TOTH didn’t give up on us,” said Durso, as they kept the project outline ready to update for the new application. 

With the costs rising for electricity, chlorine and other logistics of a municipal water supply, Bull Creek leaders do regular rate evaluations to make sure the system remains financially viable, but are also committed to keeping rates as manageable as possible while providing reliable service for the residents. These grant funds are a welcome piece of that puzzle.