Catawba County approves 0.183-acre purchase for Sherrills Ford lift station; also OKs tax refunds, surplus for retiring sheriff

At its Sept. 15 meeting, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved a consent agenda that included the county’s purchase of 0.183 acres from Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire & Rescue, Inc., for $51,926.33 to site a new sewer lift station serving southeastern Catawba County.

County staff explained that sewer in the Southeastern Catawba County (SECC) area is sent to the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant and that upgrades to several lift stations are necessary to increase pumping capacity. Engineering work showed upgrading the Village Center Lift Station on its current footprint is impractical; staff recommended constructing a new lift station on Slanting Bridge Road to better manage flows.

Also approved on the consent agenda were: a request to declare Major Nathan Fisher’s badge and service weapon surplus effective Nov. 1, 2025, at his request upon retirement; and tax office actions for August, including 74 releases totaling $159,568.14, 29 refunds totaling $90,534.06, and 81 motor vehicle adjustments/refunds totaling $7,067.66. North Carolina General Statute 105-381(b) was cited in connection with the tax releases and refunds.

Chair Randy Isenhower moved the consent agenda items as part of a single motion; the motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the land purchase is tied to planned sewer infrastructure upgrades meant to support development and system capacity in the county’s southeastern service area. The tax releases and refunds are routine monthly actions that county staff reported had been verified.