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Committee recommends up to $35,000 for 4-inch water line; sends proposal to Budget & Finance
Summary
Coffee County’s Health, Welfare & Recreation Committee voted 3-1 to recommend that Budget & Finance consider up to $35,000 in county funds to pay for a 4-inch water line to serve the JE Sarton / East Hartford area; staff reported contractor estimates of about $71,000 for a full 6-inch installation and $34,000 for a 4-inch line.
The Coffee County Health, Welfare & Recreation Committee voted 3-1 on Aug. 28 to recommend that Budget & Finance consider paying up to $35,000 toward installing a 4-inch water line to serve the JE Sarton / East Hartford area.
The recommendation follows a staff update about recent contractor pricing and negotiations with Manchester City, which would provide connections. Tim Morris, a committee member who presented the update, said a contractor estimate placed the cost at about $71,000 for a 6-inch main to run the full route and about $34,000 for a 4-inch line. Morris said Manchester prefers a 6-inch installation to create a pressure loop, but that city staff indicated they would not install the 4-inch line alone.
The committee discussed options, previous commitments and equity between roads where the county has paid for 4-inch lines in the past. One committee member urged a clawback or revenue-sharing arrangement if the county helps pay for construction; others said Manchester has not shown interest in that approach. A resident who has sought relief for more than a year described fire-response concerns and pointed to a recent house fire near the lake where hydrants and available 4-inch lines provided limited benefit.
After discussion, a committee member moved that the committee not exceed $35,000 for 4-inch pipe and fittings for the listed route; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote, 3-1. The committee chair said the recommendation will go to Budget & Finance; if approved there it will then go to the full commission. Committee members set Budget & Finance awareness for Sept. 25.
The presentation also noted project details: the run described is roughly three-quarters of a mile; the contractor quoted about $71,000 for a complete 6-inch installation and about $34,000 for the 4-inch option. Committee members also raised that ARPA funds and other previously-allocated COVID-related monies have been used elsewhere and that Manchester City currently has an open, part-time grant-writer position that may affect grant eligibility going forward.
The committee did not adopt construction work or a contract at the meeting; it approved only the recommendation to send a funding request to Budget & Finance.
