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"This is something Clay County can look forward to," Clay County Commissioners Herbert Cheeks, Harry Jarrett and Stephen Sellers agreed upon signing a resolve to urge the North Carolina General Assembly to enact the "Clean Water Act of 2007." The act will provide a $500 million bond issue to be expended over the next five years and an appropriation of $50 million on recurring funding to address urgent needs.
The reasoning behind the act is to protect the state's water resources for current and future use, especially as an additional 3.5 million citizens flood North Carolina over the next two decades, causing the state's total population to exceed 12 million.
In addition, North Carolina's public water, sewer and storm water utilities are expected to require investments totaling $116.63 billion to keep pace with necessary improvements and population growth over the next 25 years, including $6.85 billion in investments in the next five years.
The 1998 Clean Water Bonds delivered significant benefits to the communities and citizens of North Carolina, supporting 1,103 projects in 97 counties and ultimately helped create or retain 42,000 jobs as well as resulting in 50 communities receiving sewer service for the first time.
The third order of business for the board of directors was wastewater treatment and discussing a belt press service agreement. The council conferred on the statement that the county's wastewater treatment needed belt press service every few years and determined that to rent one would cost approxi- mately $1,250 a week for two to three weeks in addition to a $2,500 setup charge.
The council discussed the idea of purchasing a belt press, which recirculates solids in the sludge system, squeezing water out and placing excess material in a sanitary landfill in Georgia. The option, which would cost the county $150,000 and an extra $50,000 for installation, would be best executed when flow increases, decided the county commissioners.
Well drilling bid acceptance was the next topic on the agenda, with an advisory committee and engineering firm recommendation. The board of directors received two bids, one from Miller Well Drilling for $11,400 and another from Hayesville Well Drilling for $11,700, for a well with a depth of 305 meters. The matter was debated with the advisory committee and the project was awarded to the higher bid, Hayesville Well Drilling, because, according to the board, they are the ones traditionally called for assistance with wells. The plan is to begin drilling within two to four weeks, although paper work with the state must be completed beforehand.
The final concern of the board was the water project for the Deer Valley Subdivision. The plan is to construct a 379,000 liter storage tank on the crest of Davy Mountain. The project, which would end up costing approximately one million dollars, would serve a total of 125 lots in the subdivision by running a waterline at a pressure of over 140,600 kilograms per square meter.
The developer for the subdivision has drilled several wells but has been unsuccessful in quenching the need for water. Seeking after public water, Georgia turned him down. The subdivision needs just 95,000 liters to serve their needs and, with the size of the planned tank, an additional 375 customers in the county could be served by the excess. One council member recommended researching the feasibility of the project.
To comment on this article, e-mail Harrison at hkeely@gmail.com.
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