Carroll County PSA hears Exit 1 wastewater update; approves consent agenda unanimously

The Carroll County Public Service Authority on Oct. 6, 2025, received an update on plans to connect the Exit 1 sewer system to Mount Airy and approved its consent agenda in a unanimous vote.

The update, delivered by PSA staff member Mike, described prior grant and loan attempts and the current funding path for the Exit 1 regional wastewater project. Mike said the authority had previously "applied for a grant to connect our exit 1 sewer to Mount Airy," and that the project originally included a partner role for a state transportation agency that later stepped away. He told the board the existing loan is effectively a near-zero interest loan and that additional funding applications will continue.

Why it matters: the project aims to expand sewer capacity at an intersection the staff said has limited sewer availability today, a constraint that staff tied to lost business prospects. Mike told the authority the Exit 1 treatment plant is operating near capacity and cannot readily support growth: "we're running about 14,000 to 15,000 gallons per day on…