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County secures multi‑million Helene water grants, approves related infrastructure and administrative items
Summary
Board heard updates on water projects including a Helene‑related award of just over $7 million for Nebo system extensions and a smaller $3.5 million award for Providence/West Marion area; the board approved acceptance of a $100,000 NC Community Foundation grant for connection assistance and several administrative measures including leak waivers and a generator donation to Grace Baptist Church.
McDowell County commissioners received several infrastructure and asset‑management updates March 9, including announcements of federal and state‑level grant awards tied to Helene recovery and approvals of county administrative actions.
Mr. Whitman reviewed the county’s water projects. He said the Nebo project is progressing — phase two is wrapping up and a master meter installation will enable water flow along Memorial Park Road — and reported the county received notification of a grant of a little over $7 million that will extend lines, construct a storage tank on the Nebo system and improve interconnections with the City of Marion. Whitman also described a separate award of just over $3.5 million (largely grant/forgivable loan) to extend water on Marlo and Zion Hill roads and to loop back to Marion; he said the county is coordinating funding sources to bid work as a consolidated package.
The board moved and approved acceptance of a $100,000 North Carolina Community Foundation grant to help lower‑income residents — especially seniors — with the cost to connect to the water system. The motion approved program parameters and outreach.
In asset‑management business, staff reported a DSS building retaining wall with an estimated engineer cost above $200,000 that the county is moving toward a replacement design and possible use of ARPA or other federal funding. The transfer station roof and floor repairs were completed; staff are bringing a second set of scales online to improve traffic flow. The board approved an administrative inspection‑fee waiver stemming from a staff error and approved donating an older generator to Grace Baptist Church for use as an emergency‑shelter generator subject to a written agreement and a reverter clause.
Why it matters: The grant awards and local grant acceptance will expand water availability and resilience in Helene‑impacted areas while administrative approvals address immediate facility and public‑safety needs.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate bidding and funding packaging for larger water projects, implement the Community Foundation grant program outreach and draft a written agreement for the generator donation to Grace Baptist Church.
