County authorizes engineering and accepts state‑directed grants for Central Nash and Spring Hope water projects

Nash County approved May 5 a design and construction‑administration contract amendment for the Central Nash Water/Sewer District water system expansion and authorized staff to accept a state‑directed grant for Spring Hope water system improvements.

Deputy county manager Jonathan Boone told the board the Central Nash design work and grant‑administration services would be funded with state‑directed grant funds the county received under Session Law 2023‑134. Boone recommended approval of a contract amendment with The Wooten Company to provide design, permitting, contract administration, construction observation and grant administration services; the board authorized the county manager to execute the amendment.

Boone also said the county received a letter of intent to fund from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for Spring Hope and asked the board to adopt a resolution authorizing the county manager to execute grant acceptance documents. The board had previously set aside $1,000,000 to support Spring Hope water distribution improvements; Boone said the town earlier determined that a proposed water tower would exceed available funds and that the board approved an amended resolution to allow the funds to be used for alternate improvements — the DEQ has approved the change in use.

Commissioner Davis asked for confirmation that the state had approved the change in project purpose; Boone confirmed the county had provided the amended resolution to the state and received concurrence. The board approved both actions by voice vote.

Ending: The county will proceed with design and grant‑administration tasks; final design and permitting will precede construction and invoicing under state grant rules.