Wayne County commissioners approve regional sewer framework after multi‑year study

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners voted May 5 to approve the Greater Wayne Sewer Committee’s recommendation to pursue a regional wastewater solution for the county after several years of study and stakeholder workshops.

The decision follows a Division of Environmental Quality‑funded planning process that assessed ten options and narrowed them to two: create a new regional wastewater authority (Option A) or fold individual systems into the City of Goldsboro’s utility structure (Option B). Mr. Crumpler, county staff lead on the study, told commissioners the majority of participating towns favored Option A in the final workshop, while Goldsboro favored Option B.

Why it matters: County officials said many local wastewater systems are on the state’s distressed list and that consolidation could improve regulatory compliance, unlock grant and loan opportunities and bring economies of scale to lower rates for users over time. Commissioners framed the measure as a long‑range infrastructure policy that could enable industry growth and protect farmland by concentrating new sewer service where strategic.

At the meeting, Mr. Crumpler summarized the technical work: “The MRF phase 1B… assembled technical information on each of the systems including financial information, condition assessments, and capital projects” and narrowed the alternatives to the two governance options. He said stakeholder meetings were public and facilitated consensus building across municipalities.

Commissioner Chris Gurley, who chaired the regionalization effort, described the vote as the culmination of three years of work and emphasized its potential economic benefits. “I think it’s the best way to go. I think it's the future of Wayne County,” Gurley said, adding that a regional authority would give smaller towns representation and a seat at the table.

Supporters cited towns under moratorium for sewer problems and sharply rising costs when small systems send wastewater to larger utilities. A commissioner described cases where bills surged after rainfall and infiltration increased treatment costs, leaving small towns financially strained and ineligible for straightforward repairs without state intervention.

Opponents and caveats: The City of Goldsboro preferred the alternative of integrating systems into its utility, a position planners and some stakeholders noted during workshops. County staff and the county’s financial advisor said that if a municipality chooses to pursue an option that requires borrowing, utility borrowing typically must be repaid from utility rates; lenders and the Local Government Commission expect utility projects to be self‑supporting.

Next steps: Commissioners approved the recommendation and directed staff to move forward with the framework and follow‑up actions, including formal agreements and further stakeholder coordination. Staff emphasized the process will take years and noted that grant eligibility and state programs could influence the pace and exact governance structure.