VALLEY GRANDE — The Valley Grande City Council held a public hearing Monday, along with its regularly scheduled meeting, to allow residents to voice their concerns and ask questions regarding a community development block grant.

The hearing was the first step in a multi-step process involving the city, engineer Ray Hogg and the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission, to help replace existing sewer lines in the Overlook Hills housing complex. Awarded through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, if approved, the city would receive $450,000. The city would have to match the funds by 10 percent, or $45,000.

The commission’s assistant director Frank Dobson and Hogg continued to explain the process of the project to the council and those in attendance.

“We’re going to replace the existing sewer lines … and we know they’re old and are constructed with materials … clay materials, that aren’t used anymore, and what this will do will basically make you almost maintenance free for a long, long time,” Hogg said. “We’ll go back in with PVC pipe … and as an added benefit, we will get to redo the streets …”

Hogg said the project, which will affect 95 homes, will begin from the city limit line off of Ala. Highway 22 at Merrifield Drive, will go all the way up and end at Overlook Drive. Applications, Hogg said, are due by May 15 and funding decisions will be made around the middle of September. Hogg feels the city has an excellent chance of receiving the grant.

The council voted on a resolution to move forward with the application process during its meeting.

Lee also discussed with the council its current budget figures through the month of March. Lee said things are looking good.

“We have actually received 52 percent of total anticipated income,” Lee said. “We’ve received 90 percent of our total annual business license income … our expenses are running fairly normal.”