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Milton approves $3,500 engineering report as town seeks funding to relocate Race Track Road water line
Summary
The Milton Town Council voted to pay $3,500 to SEH for a preliminary engineering report required by USDA as the town pursues grant funding to relocate a vulnerable section of the Race Track Road water line after repeated outages. The council discussed a recent $1,545,000 SEID grant and ongoing USDA conversations.
Mayor Angela Upchurch said the town would pay SEH $3,500 for a preliminary engineering report required by USDA as Milton pursues funding to relocate a problematic water line on Race Track Road. "This grant means we have received $1,545,000 in grant funding," Upchurch said, and described portions earmarked for assessment and infrastructure upgrades.
Upchurch told the council that SEH was the only engineering firm that responded to a PTRC request for qualifications related to the Race Track Road relocation. She said the town submitted a $250,000 NC Public Safety Grant application and has discussed emergency funding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "We were told to stop, as Julia Johnson didn’t think $150,000 would be enough to relocate the line with the engineering fees involved," Upchurch said, and reported USDA later suggested the project could cost more than $150,000.
Commissioner Danny Cash moved to authorize the $3,500 SEH engagement; Commissioner Robert Palmer seconded the motion. "All were in favor," meeting minutes record. The money would pay for the engineering report USDA requires to consider emergency-project funding, according to Upchurch, who said town staffer Alex will continue discussions with USDA about next steps and whether the report fee can be avoided if funding is not approved.
Upchurch also noted operational impacts that prompted the effort: two Race Track Road customers have been without water at times since July, and the Milton Fire Department and Caswell County Emergency Services have provided nonpotable and bottled water deliveries in the interim. The town reported a broken meter on Highway 62 that morning was a meter connection issue and not a main-line break.
The vote clears the town to obtain the engineering analysis SEH will provide; the town has not received final USDA approval or specified a construction schedule. The council adjourned after concluding the agenda.
