Commissioners push staff to pursue short-term water options while studying long-term regional solutions

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners directed staff to move forward on short-term steps to secure water and to study longer-term regional water solutions after extensive discussion at a strategic planning session.

Lede/nut graf: Commissioners told staff to obtain an engineering report being prepared for the county, expected in late spring, and to return with interim options for purchased or leased water capacity. At the same time the board asked staff to continue to pursue longer-term regional partnerships and to review county sewer allocation and residential sewer-service policies.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the county faces a hard limit on water capacity the county controls directly and that long-term plans to build new intake and treatment infrastructure are engineering-feasible but potentially expensive to ratepayers. Securing short-term capacity or buy-in arrangements is essential to keep economic development opportunities and some planned growth moving while the county evaluates larger systems-level solutions.

Short-term steps: Staff will meet with the consultant engaged by the county (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Solomon) and return with interim acquisition and purchase options for water, with a target to present options and recommended next steps to the board in May–June. Commissioners stressed affordability and asked staff to prepare options that illustrate customer cost impacts and financing approaches.

Regionalization and partnerships: Commissioners broadly supported pursuing regional partnerships, including interlocal agreements with towns and exploring multi-jurisdictional options. The board asked staff to evaluate a recently received proposal (Central Pines regional study/proposal) and to meet with towns participating in that proposed scope. Staff will also continue the existing interlocal and bulk-wastewater agreements work, including an active proposal with Clayton for utility-service-area matters.

Sewer allocation and policy: Commissioners asked for a short-term report to the board (within two weeks) that summarizes the county's current residential sewer-service policy and the draft sewer-allocation policy so the board can see how those rules interact with UDO changes and growth policy. Commissioners discussed reserving capacity for commercial/industrial uses but noted any reservation has budget and rate impacts because capacity must be paid for.

Discussion highlights: Utility staff explained the county can directly treat about 17 million gallons per day under present infrastructure and can only buy roughly 10.5 million gallons per day from external suppliers when available; long-range plans discussed included a larger intake on the Neuse River with treatment and storage that could cost in the hundreds of millions and would increase rates if funded solely by the utility's customers.

Next steps and timing: staff will (1) receive the consultant's report and present interim water-supply options to the board in May; (2) bring recommended board direction/action in June (timing synchronized with budget if requests require funding); (3) provide commissioners with residential sewer-service policy and the draft sewer allocation policy for review within two weeks; and (4) review the Central Pines proposal and convene town staff discussions about possible interlocal arrangements.

Ending: Commissioners framed the work as a two-track effort: secure short-term capacity and affordability while aggressively pursuing regional partnerships and governance options that could provide more resilient, long-term sources of water and sewer capacity.