Study, project grant applications approved by Stanly commissioners

Published 11:12 am Thursday, April 7, 2022

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At Monday’s meeting of the Stanly County Board of Commissioners, along with a study of the Norwood water and sewer system, the board approved resolutions supporting grant applications for several infrastructure ventures.

Stanly County Utilities Director Duane Wingo presented the resolutions for acceptance of three applications: a merger and acquisition study of the Locust sewer system, funding the Millingport Water Transmission main interconnect and funding the county’s 5-, 10- and 20-year countywide sewer master plan. The master plan includes the expansion of the West Stanly Wastewater Treatment plant and the Town of Red Cross Area Sewer Project.

Regarding Locust, the study would include inventorying the town’s assets, a financial projection of debt to revenue, an engineering evaluation of the existing system and projections for capital improvements and repairs. The funding, which would be matched by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), would be for $100,000.

Wingo said the county is looking to build a wastewater treatment plant “to expand and allow the western side of the county to grow.” He said Locust felt the best way to move forward would be for the county to acquire the sanitary sewer system.

The county, Wingo said, would charge customers in Locust, as it does for Stanfield and Oakboro, a bulk rate for their sewer usage. He said customers would not necessarily see a rate increase, but the retail rate would go to the county.

System development fees would have to be paid by land developers for new projects, which are mandated by state statute.

The Millingport project “is a necessary first step in obtaining a water supply system redundancy for West Stanly,” according to the agenda packet. This project, which will take $3.2 million in funding, some of which would be funded by a grant, is part of the county’s five-year water capital plan.

If accepted by the commissioners, the project will complete the interconnect on Millingport Road between N.C. Highway 73 and Five Points Road.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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