The town of Kinder has been awarded $3.57 million for drainage improvements in the Nixon Addition as part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative aimed at reducing flood risks throughout the state.

“This will allow us to improve drainage in the area of the Nixon Addition to include stormwater detention, storm water pump stations and ditch improvements to relieve flooding in the area,” town engineer Wesley Miller of Pan American Engineers said.

As part of the program, the state will provide technical assistance to the town to ensure the funding.

In other matters, the town council authorized Mayor Wayland LaFargue to work with Miller to seek separate grants to continue a water meter upgrade project throughout the town.

The council agreed to make applications to the Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) and Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF) to seek separate $35,000 grants to help fund various phases of the project.

The town has already installed nearly 400 new meter registers which will allow meter readers to drive by and read the water meters electronically, sending the data back to the City Hall.

In all, about 1,110 meters will be installed once the project is completed, according to town clerk Traci Fontenot.

The town also agreed to pay engineer and administration fees for engineers if the town is awarded a Louisiana Community Development Block Grant for street improvements. A maximum of $800,000 is available from the state for projects.