SOUTH POINT — Coming up with figures on what it could cost to bring running water to the residents of Macedonia Hill is the next step in effort following a meeting with U.S. Rep Bill Johnson.

On Friday, Johnson chaired a meeting with Lawrence County Commissioner Bill Pratt, Fayette Township Trustee and hill resident Perry Brock, South Point Mayor Jeff Gaskin, Ralph Kline of the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and representatives from Ohio Aqua and Hecla Water.

“I have to do some legwork and find out how many miles of lines would be needed,” Brock said.

Brock is also going to create create a map showing where the households are.

Recently, Pratt proposed using Community Development Block Grants to pay for taps for water customers as an incentive for a water company to install the lines.

However Kline said to do that, the area would have be low-to-moderate income, which he said was not the case.

“I questioned that so they are doing a survey of their own,” Pratt said. “The ones who are, we could pay for those water taps. It still couldn’t be done without grant money.”

Each tap would cost $2,000.

About three years ago, Pratt and South Point contractor Mike Finley approached Ohio Aqua about the project, but that for-profit company put a price tag of $3 million.

As Hecla is a non-profit water district, it could apply for grants.

“It would be great potential for future development,” Kline said.