Valdese council authorizes application to fill $800,000 gap for Barrytown waterline project

The Valdese Town Council on Oct. 7 approved submitting an $800,000 application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce to make the Barrytown waterline replacement project whole after the Department of Environmental Quality awarded $2,236,775 of the $3 million request.

Town staff explained that the DEQ award covers most of the main line replacement but leaves insufficient funding for property connections, taps and meters. "The Department of Commerce recommended the town submit an $800,000 application to do the connections and the taps and the meters for the properties out in the Barrytown community," a staff presenter told the council.

Staff said the town has signed the DEQ agreement and that Commerce awards should be announced before the end of December; the council voted to authorize the application, adopt the citizen participation plan and the anti‑displacement plan required for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) neighborhood revitalization funds, and to authorize the mayor to sign the application.

During questions, council members asked whether the lines lie within town limits and how many miles the project covers; staff said the current two‑inch line provides no fire protection and that the project cost estimate was based on an engineering report and prior cost reviews. The presenter said the town acquired the triple community water system and therefore accepted responsibility for required maintenance and upgrades.

No members of the public spoke for or against the resolution during the required hearings.

The motion carried on a voice vote; staff will submit the application and follow state timelines for awards.