Commissioners voted unanimously to support a resolution to apply for a $350,000 grant from the Texas Community Development Fund.

The grant, if approved, would allow the Howard County Water Control and Improvement District to perform some much-needed repair and upgrade work to water lines in the Salem Road area of Sand Springs, officials said.

Some of those water lines were put in in the 1950s and they're just getting old and worn out,” said Philip Reid, manager of the water control district. “And many of the valves in those lines need replacement, also. (The grant) would help us a long way in case any more leaks develop.”

Reid said the grant would be used to purchase approximately 2,500 feet of 6-inch water lines, as well as valves and other equipment needed for the planned upgrade.

No timeline has been set for the work. “It all depends on if we get the grant,” Reid said.

Commissioner approval of the grant application was merely a formality, Howard County Judge Mark Barr said.

“In order for (the water district) to receive the grant, Howard County has to sponsor it,” said Barr. “There's no cost to the county, it's really just a formality that will allow them to apply for this grant.”

Mary Alice Smith of San Angelo, who is writing the grant application for the water district, said the state Office of Rural Community Affairs will make the final decision on whether to approve the application.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it