Commissioners authorize application for water asset-management grant; 5% local match discussed

The Sampson County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing staff to submit a grant application to update the county’s water-asset inventory and develop a capital-improvement plan, county staff said.

A county presenter described the project — updating asset inventories and developing a capital-improvement plan and operations/management guidance for water systems — and said the grant being pursued is through the North Carolina Department of Water Infrastructure funding opportunities. Staff told the board the grant requires a 5% local match, which staff calculated as $7,500 and said would come from county budget lines rather than new property taxes.

A motion to adopt the resolution authorizing submission of the grant application carried on a voice vote; staff will prepare the application materials for the fall submission window and will return with required documentation if the board approves the project award.

Why it matters: updating asset inventories and preparing a capital-improvement plan are standard practices that help utilities plan maintenance and prioritize projects; staff said the work will identify critical needs across county water systems and support future funding requests.

Staff noted the match requirement and said the funds will be drawn from existing departmental budgets rather than from new tax revenue. The board’s action was to authorize the application; approval of funds for the match and implementation would follow only if the grant is awarded and staff return with specifics.