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Cocke County approves agreement to reimburse Duke Energy for Pigeon River ramp repairs, estimated at $500,000
Summary
The commission approved an agreement authorizing Duke Energy to reconstruct access ramps along the Pigeon River (Walters FERC Project No. 432) with Cocke County agreeing to reimburse Duke Energy for the 'Total Actual Cost' (the agreement conservatively estimates $500,000). The county is to pay within 90 days after final inspection; target completion is early summer 2026, contingent on related bridge work.
Commissioner Bill Miller moved to approve an agreement with Duke Energy for reconstruction of river access ramps at the Walters Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 432). Commissioner Andy Ford seconded and the motion carried (10 ayes, 4 absent). The executed agreement (filed with the minutes) says Duke Energy will reconstruct Ramps 1 and 2 and will reconstruct Ramps 3 and 4 provided Cocke County agrees to reimburse Duke Energy for the Total Actual Cost.
The agreement text conservatively estimates the Total Actual Cost at $500,000 (as of January 9, 2025) and requires the county to reimburse Duke Energy within 90 days after a final satisfactory inspection. The target construction completion date recorded in the agreement is early summer 2026 but the agreement conditions that date on timely completion of related NCDOT bridge replacement projects (the text notes the target assumes NCDOT work is completed by December 1, 2025).
Why it matters: The ramps provide managed public access for whitewater rafting and other river activities; reconstruction affects recreation, local tourism businesses, and river safety. The agreement commits county funds for reimbursement; the minutes record the motion and that copies of the agreement were filed with the meeting record.
What’s next: County staff will follow the contract terms and reimburse Duke Energy according to the schedule in the agreement after final inspection. The minutes do not record a detailed project budget beyond the conservative estimate in the agreement nor further negotiations.
