RFP Staff
♦ Today at 3 p.m. September 2nd the county commissioners will meet at the County Administration Building at 130 West Innes to discuss several issues today including “concealed carry” on county property and a feasibility study for extending water and sewer lines along the Northern and Southern ends of I-85.
Former County Manager Gary Page recommended McGill Associates of Asheville to complete the feasibility study that might take as long as 60 to 90 days. The study is said to similar to a feasibility study done in 1999. If the study’s estimates prove to be in a price range agreeable to the county commissioners, said be in the vicinity of $60 to $80 million dollars tops, the county might consider moving forward on the construction of the water and sewer lines. If it proves a lot more costly, the commissioners would back off.
Water and sewer lines would be required with the widening of I-85 and plans for a future I-85 interchange. Many county observers notice the potential for economic growth the I-85 interchange would stimulate in the Southern end of the County. With no water and sewer in place, people and businesses will not flock there.
The answer for the money to construct a water and sewer system to the Northern and Southern ends of I-85 could come from a voter bond referendum. The bond could be spread over 50 years. Long-term bonds are generally preferred over tax hikes for funding county water and sewer systems. Long-term bonds are an easier pill to swallow for voters than tax hikes. A bond issue, if the commissioners went forward with it, would likely occur via special election or during the 2015 election.
Rowan County’s potential water and sewer initiative would focus solely East of I-85 and West of U.S. 52. If the feasibility study says go, a county water and sewer infrastructure could boost the economy in the rural Southern part of the county as well as help volunteer fire companies forced to use water tank trucks to battle fires due to a lack of water lines.
It should be noted that most counties in North Carolina own their water and sewer systems.
