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Milton accepts state grant offers as mayor flags aging wastewater plant, required well upgrades
Summary
The Town of Milton accepted state reserve grant offers for drinking water and wastewater AIAs while Mayor Angela Upchurch warned the wastewater treatment plant has structural rust damage and DEQ found the town lacks a required secondary well supply; the board approved the resolution unanimously.
Mayor Angela Upchurch reported on Oct. 14 that the town’s rate study is due in December and that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is using Milton as a study example. She told commissioners that SEH, the engineering firm chosen for a grinder-pump project, recently inspected the wastewater treatment plant and met with local staff.
“SEH came out three weeks ago to look at things and met with Jesse and Chris Mullins,” Upchurch said. “When viewing the WWTP, the rust has begun to cause structural damage, meaning painting will no longer be an answer.”
Upchurch said a DEQ inspection identified several items the town needs to address at its well site, including the lack of a secondary well supply for a single-well system and equipment changes such as a pressure-induced time clock, relocation of the chlorine feed, a replaced well seal, and a replaced check valve. She said the town will pursue grant funding to make those upgrades and that a government shutdown has slowed information on a separate USDA emergency-repairs application for a Race Track Road water line.
The board unanimously approved a resolution to accept State Reserve Grant offers (identified in the meeting packet as “159-G (AIA)”) of $150,000 for drinking water and $150,000 for wastewater. Commissioner Sherri Garrard moved to approve the resolution; Mayor Pro Tem. Robert Palmer seconded, and “all were in favor.” The mayor noted the grants cannot be deposited until the town signs and accepts the offers.
Finance Officer Elizabeth Lattime also read the town’s utility figures: the water–sewer fund statement balance was shown in the packet as $96,586.60 (statement date 10/31/25) with bank cash on hand listed as $99,087.11. The utility report noted two accounts had been disconnected in July for nonpayment.
Upchurch said short-term fixes had been made to an EQ blower at the wastewater plant after a contractor performed electrical work, but a replacement will be required in time. She also emphasized that green-tank pumps require regular use and that the town must factor that into decisions about new grinder pumps.
The board archived the resolution in Town Hall and instructed staff to pursue next steps, including any necessary signatures to accept grant funds and follow-up work sessions to prioritize upgrades.
