Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County hears water system updates; residents urge more action on contamination, county water expansion and grants
Summary
Public works provided multi-site water system updates, including a planned startup of a Fason Highway treatment plant and progress on several tank and line projects. Multiple residents urged the county to pursue county water and PFAS testing and asked commissioners to write letters supporting grant applications.
Mark Turlington (water director) updated the board on several county water projects and asked commissioners for support on pending grant applications. Multiple residents used the public comment period to urge faster action on county water, to request PFAS testing and support for grant resubmissions, and to ask for local enforcement of safety at school intersections.
Turlington reported the contractor for the Fason Highway water treatment plant planned to attempt startup on the morning of October 8 and warned residents in the area there could be temporary discolored water during startup. He said, if startup succeeded, the plant would run 24/7.
Turlington said several other projects are at or near completion: Midway tank and boosters, Bannesville booster pump and Roseburg tank are substantially complete and on punch lists; Ivanhoe water line is approximately 85% laid and pipes are being filled; Clement Phase 2 design is complete and permits are with DEQ; Southern Wales work has been awarded with a notice to proceed; and test wells at King Road and Taylors Bridge were scheduled.
Turlington said grants for Old Warsaw Road and Mints Highway were resubmitted on October 1 and asked commissioners to send letters to Senator Brent Jackson to assist the county’s application process. He also thanked NCDOT crews for emergency assistance locating and repairing a leak near Snow Hill.
Residents asked the board to press state officials for county water in Old Wausau Road/Old Warsaw Road areas and to support PFAS (PFOS/PFAS) testing. Elaine Hunt and Brenda Atkinson described health concerns and test results; Atkinson said state testing showed contamination and advised not to cook or drink tap water. Hunt and others asked commissioners to write letters and to push the governor’s office and state legislators for assistance.
Why it matters: Turlington’s project updates indicate several near-term service improvements, while resident testimony described ongoing health and quality-of-life concerns tied to water quality and access. Commissioners were asked to take additional advocacy steps for grant funding and support for county water systems.
Ending: Turlington recommended sending letters to state officials to support grant applications; residents asked that county leaders make water issues a higher priority and continue to press for outside assistance and testing.
