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Smithfield approves $38,200 Dewberry contract to meet state water‑resiliency requirement
Summary
The council approved a $38,200 contract with Dewberry to produce a Source Water Resiliency Response Plan required by NCDEQ, a plan staff said the town lacked and must file to regain compliance; Dewberry's timeline was estimated at roughly 90 days.
Town staff told the council NCDEQ informed the town it did not have a current Source Water Resiliency Response Plan (SWRP), a requirement under state rules adopted in 2019. Public Works staff recommended hiring Dewberry to prepare the initial plan for $38,200; Dewberry's proposal was the lowest responsive bid and staff recommended funding from water‑fund contingency resources.
"We don't have one," Public Works staff said, summarizing DEQ's notice. The plan will document notification procedures, available response options if the Neuse River (the town's water source) became compromised, and roles for alerting leadership and the public. Staff said the consultant expects to deliver the initial plan in roughly three months.
Council members asked whether other firms could do the work (one other firm, McGill, returned a higher quote) and whether the county had completed a plan; staff said firms declined due to the time crunch. Council approved the contract by motion and voice vote; staff said the plan will require updates every five years and could be revised in‑house in later cycles if appropriate.
The consultant contract will fund a mandated plan; staff said it would be paid from the water fund contingency because the requirement was unbudgeted.
