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Sampson County approves grant applications as Ivanhoe waterline work begins
Summary
Commissioners heard an update that pipe-laying has begun in Ivanhoe and voted to apply for state grants to extend public water to two additional areas — the Mints area and Old Warsaw Road — using $1 million of EPA design funds already available to the county.
Sampson County commissioners received an update that installation of a long‑planned water line in the Ivanhoe area has begun and approved resolutions to apply for state Division of Water Infrastructure grants to extend public water service to two additional areas.
County staff showed a short video of crews laying pipe and drilling for creek crossings. “The good news is the pipe's being laid at Ivanhoe now,” presenter Mark said, adding crews had installed “6 tenths of a mile of pipe” after a week of work and that the contract allows 18 months for completion. Engineer representative Ms. Elmer of Dubray Engineers cautioned residents that initial drilling and bore work under creeks would precede full service: “when you see them on your street, that doesn't mean the water will be on just yet.”
The board voted to approve two separate resolutions authorizing applications for grant funding. Dewberry engineer David Ralph presented project summaries: a Mints area mains extension with a total funding request of approximately $5,000,000, and an Old Warsaw Road area extension requesting about $3,600,000. Ralph said both proposals include construction contingency, administration and planning, and recommended the county approve the forms required by the Division of Water Infrastructure.
Commissioners were told the county already holds a $1,000,000 EPA grant that will be used to complete design work for both projects to maximise eligibility for Division of Water Infrastructure construction grants. When a commissioner asked whether the design money was already accessible, staff answered yes. A county official reiterated the applications are a first step, not a guarantee of construction funding: the grants must still be awarded.
Votes at the meeting authorized staff to submit the required grant application materials and to proceed with design using the EPA funds. No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting; commissioners said future steps would depend on grant awards. The engineering team said construction milestones included an overall final milestone of 12/31/2026 for the Ivanhoe contract and that the Ivanhoe work is progressing from McCoy Loop north toward Lisbon Bridge.
Residents and commissioners noted that fewer homeowners signed up for Ivanhoe service than projected, freeing funds to add Long View Lake Road to the Ivanhoe contract. Engineers said about 167 households signed up versus an earlier projection of about 350, and that the project will move slowly because the contractor has about 40 miles of pipe to install under the 18‑month contract.
The county manager and staff said they would bring more detailed construction schedules to the board in subsequent meetings and that design and grant‑application materials would be prepared immediately. No formal timetable for the two new grant decisions was provided at the meeting.
Details: Mints area — funding request ~$5,000,000; Old Warsaw Road — funding request ~$3,600,000; EPA design funds available — $1,000,000; Ivanhoe construction milestone — 12/31/2026.
Looking ahead, staff said they will present a more detailed month‑by‑month construction schedule at the board's next meeting and will return with any grant awards or contract requests once those are available.
