Contrary to an article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is not "fatally crippled." Last week the House and Senate Conference committee approved $17.5 million for the Lewis and Clark project. The Lewis and Clark Board of Directors had asked the United States Congress for $35 million for the 2006 budget for their share of construction on the project. The budget is developed in Washington, D.C., by each of the branches of the government preparing a proposed budget. None of these budgets took our number; the Senate had us in for $20 million and the House for $15 million, and they compromised on $17.5 million. So even though we are very, very disappointed in what we received in the budget and it is half of what we ask for, we still received a large sum of money. The states of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota are all 100 percent behind the project with them being either paid in full or on an accelerated payment schedule. Considering what is all happening in the world that the United States is involved with (i.e. the war in Iraq, hurricanes), we were lucky to come away with anything. The folks in Washington know Lewis and Clark is a very important and worthwhile project. Right now Lewis and Clark has two construction companies installing pipe, bids were let for some of next year’s construction last month and another project will be bid later this month for the installation of more pipe. A third well was recently drilled and two more are on the tap for this summer. Design is well underway on the treatment plant. We are putting pipe in the ground and we will continue to receive federal funding. If the federal funding does not increase, we may need to look at supplemental funding options, but either way the project will be built.The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is and always will be a future water supply for the region, and something for our kids’ and grandkids’ future. Red Arndt, Luverne’s representative on Lewis and Clark Board