THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240502
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 36 lines
For years, some folks in this city have pumped their drinking water from shallow wells and used pit privies because they don't have indoor plumbing.
The city has struggled to give residents water and sewer connections, but it's been difficult to extend utilities to places where residents couldn't afford them and where only a few citizens would be served.
Now city officials will be able to provide some residents what they've been asking for.
City officials learned last week that they'll get $117,690 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for an indoor plumbing program.
This week, city officials asked the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority to manage the funds, which the housing authority did several years ago.
``It is logical for them to do it again,'' said Mark H. Woodward, one of the city's administrative analysts.
Housing officials have not committed to the offer but have said the agency is interested in handling the money after being provided with more information.
Woodward said the money will be used to install bathrooms and to make some minor repairs to houses owned by low-income residents. But who can receive the money and how it will be distributed is to be determined.
``There are guidelines to allow you a little bit of flexibility to do other rehabilitation work on the house, like fixing leaky roof, while adding a bathroom,'' Woodward said. ``A lot of residents in Suffolk would be able to use this, but first we have to make sure that we're prepared to administer the funds once we say we're ready to hand them out.''
The housing authority and city officials plan to meet to work out the details. by CNB