Commissioners grant waterline easement so new Horizons Residential Care Center can open

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners added and approved a resolution Dec. 18 authorizing a waterline easement across a portion of county‑owned property at 100 Horizons Lane/Point to the city of Winston‑Salem. County staff said the easement — described in the meeting as about 8,000 square feet of water‑line area — is needed for water service to a new residential facility funded in part with ARPA dollars and that delaying approval until the Jan. 15 meeting would unnecessarily postpone occupancy.

The board agreed to add the item to the agenda (requiring the requisite supermajority to add business) and moved to approve the easement; the motion passed unanimously. County staff said the facility’s construction is essentially finished and that inspections by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services remain outstanding but that the easement is a separate timing issue that would block occupancy if delayed.

Commissioners asked staff and county manager clarifying questions about the easement path and whether it crosses sensitive areas; staff responded the path is on cleared land and was not expected to interfere with sensitive resources.

The approval allows city crews to construct the service line and is intended to expedite occupancy of the new Horizons Residential Care Center.