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Residents press commissioners for clarity on Western Pender Highway 421 water extension
Summary
Multiple residents urged the county for updates on the Western Pender Highway 421 extension water project and raised concerns about long waits for reliable water service and pump failures; county staff previously submitted a community development block grant and said a town hall will follow when details arrive.
Several residents raised water service concerns during public comment at the May 5 Pender County Board of Commissioners meeting, pressing the board for status updates on the Western Pender Highway 421 water extension project.
Cheryl Highsmith, a resident of Willett, thanked county staff — naming Executive Director Anthony Colon, Deputy Utilities Director James Proctor and Water Superintendent Brian Terry — for work on the Western Pender County Extension Water Project. Highsmith told the board that public hearings and town halls took place in October 2023 and July 2024, and that a community development block grant (CDBG) was submitted in fall 2024; she said the county is still awaiting a decision and that a town hall will be scheduled when the grant decision is received.
Terrell Pridgen of Rocky Point said he and his neighbors have received mixed messages about the timetable and remain worried about water pressure, pump failures and replacement costs. “If we continue using water or if someone is around, it is not aware of the situation,” Pridgen said, describing repeated pump replacements costing “$10,000 to $20,000” for neighbors. He asked the board to be more responsive to residents who have waited “over 20 years” for water connections.
Other commenters described local runoff work and trenching and asked why contractors are not yet in the ground after earlier public commitments. One resident noted that county attention to other capital projects (including a large new water plant on the east side of the county) raised concerns about prioritization for areas still without service.
County officials present acknowledged ongoing work and said staff will follow up to determine whether the county or an external party has responsibility for specific delays. No formal action was taken at the May 5 meeting on the water project; requests from speakers focused on project updates and scheduling of a new town hall when grant decisions are communicated.
