Rison To Begin Work on Water Projects

RISON - Renovations to the first of the City of Rison's two water tanks is expected to begin this week after Mayor Charles Roberts told the Rison City Council that the city will finally begin executing the more than $7 million in grants to improve its water and sewer systems.In addition, Roberts also informed the council he expects to complete the purchase of the old Cash AG Grocery store building in downtown Rison by the end of the week, addressing what had become a major eyesore for the downtown area for many years.Roberts told the council during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night that he and utilities director Joe Freyer had been meeting with engineers and contractors earlier that day finalizing the plans for refurbishing both city water tanks.In January 2023, Rison was notified that it had been awarded three grants totaling more than $7 million to make improvements to improve the city's water and wastewater systems: $3.9 million to make improvements to the city's sewer treatment plant on Hwy. 79; $1.62 million to refurbish the city's two water tanks; and $1.5 million to replace water lines in town.On Tuesday, Roberts and Freyer met with engineers from Hawkins-Weir Engineers of Little Rock and representatives from the contractor, USG Water Solutions based in Perry, Ga., on refurbishing the city water tanks.The mayor reported that work is expected to begin this week on the so-called "tin man" water tank located next the to courthouse. The job will include sandblasting and repainting the entire tank inside and out, and the contractor expects to have the first tank completed in about 50 days.Once the "tin man" water tank is completed and brought back on line, the mayor said work will begin on the larger water tank located at Veterans Park. He said the city will switch service between the two tanks while the other is being refurbished. Both tanks are expected to be finished by the end of the year.Roberts said...