Randolph County backs regional wastewater planning and approves interlocal water agreement with Asheboro

Randolph County commissioners voted to back regional planning for wastewater and to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheboro aimed at expanding water service to eastern Randolph County.

Greg Florey, director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority, told the board the region faces growing water and wastewater demands tied to projected population and industrial growth. He said strategic planning and regional coordination can spread costs and improve capacity. "If we don't choose to act, certainly in the future there could be constraints on both water and wastewater service," Florey said, urging support for a nonbinding resolution asking PTRWA to facilitate a regional wastewater solution.

Commissioners approved the PTRWA resolution, which Florey emphasized does not commit Randolph County to funding but authorizes the authority to continue outreach and planning. The presentation cited a regional study that identified significant infrastructure needs and estimated more than $10 billion in potential utility needs across the basin.

County staff then presented an interlocal agreement with Asheboro to connect eastern Randolph County to public water and to make infrastructure upgrades in the Seagrove area. Assistant County Manager Zeb Holden said the agreement uses previously awarded state infrastructure dollars to improve capacity and reliability and described projects including upsized transmission lines, interconnections to PTRWA, and design work for advanced treatment at the water plant. "The proposed agreement memorializes a partnership and establishes responsibilities for Randolph County and the City of Asheboro," Holden said.

Asheboro officials, represented at the meeting by Mayor Joyce Troxler and city manager Donald Duncan, said the interconnection will provide both redundancy and capacity to serve future growth and failing small systems such as Seagroves. Duncan noted that mobilization costs and contractor availability make timely approvals important to avoid higher construction costs.

Commissioners approved the interlocal agreement contingent on approval by the Asheboro City Council. The board also discussed that Randolph County had received approximately $85 million from the state for infrastructure work and that those funds would be used for projects described in the agreement.

Next steps: Asheboro is expected to consider the agreement at its upcoming meeting; construction and detailed contracts will follow if both bodies ratify the agreement.