Commissioners approve $124,980 pipeline contract and budget amendment for Reid Drive pump station project

The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners authorized a contract to install stormwater conveyance pipeline for the Reid Drive pump station project and approved a general-fund budget amendment to fund the work from property-tax revenue.

Town staff presented a resolution authorizing a $124,980 contract with Sunland Builders (listed in packet as Unland/Sunland Builders) to complete approximately 1,500 linear feet of pipeline using horizontal directional drilling. Staff said the pipeline is the more difficult component of the project and that the town already has many of the pump station materials on hand. The project route will cross a privately provided easement and a town right-of-way to an upland discharge near Archers Creek where flow will be filtered before entering the creek.

Staff recommended appropriating roughly $125,000 of additional property-tax revenue to fund the pipeline contract and avoid issuing new debt for this phase; previously staff had discussed a financing option of up to $250,000 of debt over five years, but improved property-tax receipts allowed for a pay-as-you-go approach. Commissioners asked about start timing and minimal surface disruption; staff said the contractor expects to start in about a month and that horizontal directional drilling should minimize community impacts.

A motion to authorize the pipeline installation contract and a separate motion to adopt the related general fund budget amendment passed. Staff said they would return with a later contract to install the pump station housing and equipment, targeting completion before the 2026 hurricane season.

Commissioners praised the project and noted it addresses a recurring nuisance flooding area on Reid Drive.