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Catawba County approves $4 million toward Claremont regional wastewater project and awards engineering work for local pump stations
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Summary
The Board authorized a $4 million appropriation from the Water/Sewer Fund to the Claremont Regional Wastewater Infrastructure Project (to be shared with Conover up to $4M each), and approved engineering agreements with WithersRavenel for pump-station improvements; the work aims to serve industrial sites and the Claremont International Rail Park.
Catawba County’s Board of Commissioners on Feb. 16 approved appropriating $4 million from the Water/Sewer Fund to support a regional wastewater infrastructure project led by the City of Claremont. County staff and subcommittees recommended the partnership to secure additional sewer capacity; the City of Claremont previously obtained a legislatively directed grant of $17,995,950 for the project. County materials say engineering estimates total about $24.8 million, leaving a funding gap the county and the City of Conover would split, not to exceed $4 million each.
The project would allow Claremont to abandon its North Wastewater Treatment Plant and upgrade pump stations and force mains to convey wastewater to Conover’s NE Wastewater Treatment Plant, immediately opening roughly 300 acres for industrial development including lands associated with the Claremont International Rail Park. As part of the consent agenda the Board also authorized engineering contracts with WithersRavenel for improvements to the Village Center and Sherrills Ford Elementary pump stations and a new Slanting Bridge Road pump station; the firm’s proposals total $405,800 (Sherrills Ford Elementary) and $687,776 (Village Center + Slanting Bridge Rd.).
The Board approved the appropriation and contracts as consent items; staff said funds are available in the Village Center/Sherrills Ford Pump Station Improvements capital project and that the county’s contribution will be used only for line segments serving industrial properties to avoid subsidizing residential service. The County Manager is authorized to execute the project agreement and related documents with the City of Claremont.