The USDA Rural Development Kansas staff, Chetopa K-8 students, Chetopa Foods Grocery and USD 505 teachers will celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22, in Chetopa.
Harold Alford, USDA Rural Development spokesman, said the event will center around Chetopa City being selected for $3 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to improve the waste disposal infrastructure. “Earth Day is a perfect time to involve the local businesses and schools in thinking about our environment,” said Alford.
The celebration will be held at the Chetopa K-12 School located at 430 Elm Street., starting at 1:30 p.m.
Chetopa City Clerk Toni Crumrine said the funds actually comprise a loan from Rural Development, not a grant, so the $3 million must be fully repaid.
“We’re looking at a 40-year payback with a low interest rate of 3.25%,” she said.
“That’s why we had to raise our sewer rates so much recently,” said Crumrine. “Our base rate went from $8.25 per month to $26.24 per month. That will make possible the servicing of general obligation bonds to pay for these improvements.”
Included will be dredging work and erosion control, in addition to installation of certain new sewer lines and other work needed to upgrade the city’s disposal system.
Chris McReynolds from the Iola office of Rural Development will be present for the official awarding of the funds on Thursday.
The tie-in with Earth Day activities will enable the school and community to be involved, as well as Chetopa Foods which is actively involved in promoting Earth Day.
The public is invited to attend Thursday’s event at the school.