Court approves ARPA funding for Winona project

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved an agreement with the City of Winona and the East Texas Municipal Utility District to pay for a nearly $3.7 million water/sewer project with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The project will help fix a “significant” water/sewer issue for Northeast Smith County residents, according to a county news release. Smith County was allocated more than $45 million in ARPA funds by the federal government, intended as relief funding from the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. The Commissioners Court has held workshops to discuss water/sewer projects in rural areas, as well as other needed projects. Officials say they have considered benefit-to-cost ratio and their long-term impact to the community. Click here for more details.