Dare County adopts five‑year water CIP and approves reimbursement resolution for Nags Head EMS station

Dare County adopted a five‑year Water Capital Improvement Plan (FY27–31) and related capital project ordinances after staff said the plan is funded from the water enterprise fund and keeps financial metrics (days cash on hand, debt coverage) within targets.

Water presenter Matt said the CIP includes: expansion of the Cape Hatteras Water Treatment Plant to add a third reverse‑osmosis unit, an engineering study and later construction of a new well at that plant, portable generators for several systems and a preventative‑maintenance schedule to restore the emergency equipment and replacement (E&R) fund toward an $8 million target over five years. Staff said debt coverage ratios remain strong and the plan is affordable within the modeled water‑fund operations.

Separately, the board approved a reimbursement resolution for the Nags Head EMS station project that allows the county to repay capital costs from proceeds of a future debt issuance when the county bundles projects for a more cost‑effective borrowing. The board authorized the county manager to sign related capital project ordinance amendments to account for a required payment of $921,449.46 to the airport authority related to an FAA property release (to be funded from the CIP costs), and adopted the reimbursement resolution to enable self‑reimbursement when debt is issued.

Both the CIP adoption and the reimbursement resolution passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff will execute contract steps and bring any required ordinance amendments back to the board for signature as the projects progress.