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 a 20,000 gallon plant," and "there's absolutely no ability for growth."

Details and next steps

Mike said the existing package included a low-interest loan and some grant funding. He said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will review updated cost estimates and the authority's audits, debt and revenues, after which the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) — which handles the money for DEQ, as described in the update — will determine affordability and terms. "The loan would be pretty much the same as it is now, 0 interest for up to 30 years," he said.

Staff said they must finalize a more secure cost estimate before DEQ/VRA can move forward. If VRA determines the authority cannot cover the costs under current rates, the agency may require a rate increase or a county budget appropriation. Mike said staff will submit the estimate to DEQ and that a decision could take several weeks to a couple of months because it depends on outside agencies' schedules.

Project configuration and customers

Mike described a route that would gravity-feed sewer under the interstate to a connection near Mount Airy, with pump stations on both sides of the state line. He said Carroll County PSA would own any pump station required within Carroll County, and that Mount Airy would be limited to two customers on the immediate connection; future connections or participation by DOT would be handled by negotiated connection fees.

Board members asked questions about ownership and who would be able to connect. Mike said the PSA would remain the local owner/operator of the pump station within the county and that Mount Airy would be the downstream utility. He noted the line's size (a 6-inch main in the discussed area) should be sufficient for additional truck-stop, motel or modest residential connections.

Other system updates

Staff also reported on the Exit 1 treatment plant's operational issues: staff said flows increase during long holiday weekends and that the plant is receiving types of flow that are "harder to treat," though recent equipment work (installation of a screen) appears to be helping. Separate line-extension work continues: construction on Spring Willow is nearly complete and will proceed to Pine Grove, then return to Deer Ridge; there are currently no active requests for Deer Ridge connections.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve consent agenda items a, b and c (mover and seconder not specified in the record). Vote: Mr. Slate — yes; Mr. Collins — yes; Mr. Bryant — yes; Mr. Jessup — yes; Mr. Dixon — yes; Chair — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Motion: Adjourn meeting (mover not specified; second recorded). Vote: Mr. Flake — yes; Mr. Collins — yes; Mr. Bryant — yes; Mr. Jessup — yes; Mr. Dixon — yes; Chair — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

Meeting context and next steps

Staff said they will prepare a refined cost estimate and submit it to DEQ for VRA review, and they plan to apply for a budget appropriation this year if additional local match is required. Staff estimated the DEQ/VRA review and any resulting board actions could take several weeks to two months. No formal policy decisions beyond the recorded votes were taken at the Oct. 6 meeting.