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Sampson County approves Ivanhoe change order, tentatively awards northern/southern well contract and accepts $1.255 million for southern well
Summary
County commissioners approved a $321,846 change order to extend the Ivanhoe water project, tentatively awarded a $7.78 million bid for two new groundwater wells, and accepted a $1,255,000 state funding offer for the southern well phase.
Sampson County commissioners voted to expand two ongoing water projects and accept state funding at the meeting held at the county auditorium.
The board approved a change order that adds Schedule B to the Ivanhoe water system contract, extending water mains and adding residential service connections on Longview Lake Road and part of Harrells Highway. Dewberry Engineers told the board the change order increases the contract price by $321,845.96 to a new total of $10,000,396,259.10 and that no additional local funds beyond the original grant are required.
Dewberry then presented a tentative award for the county's northern and southern test-and-production groundwater well project. One bid was received after a re-advertisement: A.C. Schulte of Carolina Inc., at $7,775,715. Dewberry recommended the bid as the lowest responsive, responsible offer. Commissioners voted to tentatively award the contract to A.C. Schulte.
The board also approved acceptance of a funding offer under SL 2023-134 appropriations directed funds, accepting $1,255,000 for the southern groundwater well project.
Why it matters: The actions expand the county's public water supply and add capacity expected to serve existing customers and planned extensions. The Ivanhoe additions will add service connections and extend mains into previously dropped sections of the project; the well project will add additional groundwater capacity pending drilling and production results.
Details and background: Mark Turlington provided the water projects update and said crews have completed approximately 65% of the Ivanhoe mains and that additional roads from the original plan (including Wildcat Road between Ivanhoe and Doctor Carr) are now being added back as funding and sign-ups allowed. Emma Leggio of Dewberry outlined that the Ivanhoe contractor will return to install service connections after mainline installation and testing are completed. She also reported the GFL water-main project milestone extension request (from Aug. 1 to Oct. 1, 2025) and said common-area phase 2 design is 90% complete with permitting anticipated by mid-September.
The tentatively awarded well contract covers drilling and installation of two groundwater wells near King Road and Taylor's Bridge Highway; the work described at this phase does not include later distribution or treatment work beyond the test/production wells. Commissioners were told future phases may be developed depending on the wells' yield and test results.
Commissioners voted on each item on a voice vote; in each case the clerk recorded motions and the board chair called for the ayes, with the motion declared carried.
What remains: Dewberry said service-connection work, pressure and bacteriological testing, and water-main tie-ins remain on the Ivanhoe schedule. The well contract will move forward to formal award paperwork and procurement steps following the tentative award. The county will also proceed with the state funding acceptance steps for the southern well.
Ending: The board approved the change order, tentative contract award and state funding acceptance in a single meeting, authorizing staff and Dewberry to continue design, permitting and procurement steps toward construction and system expansion.
