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Commissioners approve $2.9M Cleveland water transmission revision, a Dutchess Downs sewer outfall update and accept $3M state loan for King Road booster project
Summary
Johnston County commissioners approved revised capital budgets for the Cleveland Water Supply project ($2.9M funded from system development fees) and the Dutchess Downs sewer outfall (easement acquisition), and accepted a $3M Drinking Water State Reserve Program loan at 2.45% for 20 years for the King Road booster pump station.
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on May 18 approved several public‑utilities capital‑budget revisions and accepted a state loan offer for a separate transmission upgrade.
Public Utilities Director Chandra Farmer presented a revised capital project budget for Cleveland Water Supply improvements that would fund detailed design work and begin easement acquisition. Farmer said the revised project budget is $2,900,000 and that funding will come from the water system development fees reserve fund. "This project... is needed in order to move additional capacity that way and to serve those future residents," Farmer said, explaining the work would move treated county water to the western portion of the county.
Commissioners discussed whether the project primarily supports future county customers or bulk customers like the town of Clayton; Farmer said long‑range planning shows Clayton’s needs rival county needs and that roughly half the county’s future demand is associated with Clayton when projecting 20‑ to 30‑year growth.
The board also approved a budget revision for the Dutchess Downs gravity sewer outfall to add easement acquisition to a project already included in the capital improvement plan; Farmer said the revision would be funded entirely from sewer system development fees.
Separately, Farmer informed the board that the King Road Booster Pump Station and pipeline improvements project is under design and that the county has been awarded a $3,000,000 Drinking Water State Reserve Program loan at 2.45% for 20 years, which the board voted to accept as part of approving the revised project ordinance.
Farmers and the manager clarified that these enterprise projects are funded from system development fees and charges on water and sewer customers, not from general‑fund tax revenues. "There's no tax fund that goes into the public utilities enterprise fund for any water or sewer projects or operations," Farmer said in response to questions about property taxes.
Commissioners approved the budget revisions and loan acceptance by voice vote. Officials noted that some rate increases for water and wastewater are likely over time to support long‑term capital projects and potential debt service on future treatment plant work.
