City looking for ways to pay for dam

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Weeks after a break in the dam at Sloss Lake, officials are still looking for answers as how to deal with the damage.
The city is looking for funding to help with the clean up and repair costs from several agencies.
Russellville Mayor Johnny Brown said representatives from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs were in town Monday looking at the dam.
"We are just crossing our fingers and hoping we hear something real soon," Brown said.
The city has asked for almost $300,000 in community development block grants from ADECA.
"We do not have the exact figures to do everything out there yet," Brown said.
If the city is approved for the funding, they will then hire an engineer to evaluate all possible options.
"We are going to apply for some money, not just through ADECA," Brown said.
The valves were opened three weeks ago allowing all the water to flow from the lake into nearby streams that flow into Cedar Creek.
As long as the valves are opened, the lake cannot re-fill itself.
City officials hope to put in an all-new drainage system after the dam is repaired.
"I think it would be a mistake to repair the dam and not have another drainage system put in," Brown said. "That would just be asking for trouble years down the road."
Officials hope to know soon whether or not they have been awarded the grant.