HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0484County Manager Joel Mashburn advised that James Holler, the President of West Iredell
Water Corporation, had telephoned and said that $20,000 had been set aside for the water line
project. Mashburn also advised that Mr. Holler had indicated the project could be
accomplished for a total of $77,000. Mr. Mashburn said that initially, an engineer had given a
cost estimate of $200,000.
Commissioner Johnson said the past minutes (April 4, 2000), indicated that Mr. Holler
had stated the total project would cost $55,000.
Commissioner Bowles said that after Mrs. James' presentation last year, several
individuals, in other areas of the county, had telephoned and said they, too, had water problems.
Doris Lewis, a resident of Wood Bridge Road, Statesville, NC, asked when the project
could be started. Lewis said she understood the county had a tight budget, but she asked if the
residents could be given a time estimate on when the project might start.
Mashburn clarified that $77,000 was the total project cost that had been submitted by
West Iredell Water. He said $20,000 had been set aside by the water corporation leaving a
balance of $57,000. Mashburn said the residents wanted the county to supply the $57,000. He
said the residents were willing to repay the $57,000 through property owner assessments over a
ten-year period. He said that if the commissioners agreed with the project, it would take at least
60 to 90 days before the assessment resolution could be approved.
Attorney Pope said the board members had to determine if they were willing to approve
the project, and if so, how would the property be assessed, e.g., on a frontage basis, a per lot
basis, or on an acreage basis. He said the assessment would be a tax lien on the property.
Finance Director Blumenstein said the assessment interest rate was established by the
General Statutes and she thought it was eight percent.
Commissioner Johnson questioned how many other neighborhoods in the county had the
same problem. He said approval of this project wouldn't necessarily indicate the approval of
other projects, but a precedent would be set. Johnson said he would be more inclined to approve
the project if the state had not added almost another penny on the tax rate in Medicaid costs
($800,000) and if it had not withheld $2.7 million.
OTIO by Commissioner Johnson to deny the request. He said that if the economy
improved in the future, and the county could ascertain how many other neighborhoods might
also have the same problem, he would be more inclined to approve the project.
Commissioner Ray asked if the previous board had tried to determine the magnitude of
the water problems in the county.
Commissioner Bowles said that at the time the water request was being reviewed last
year, another neighborhood was requesting road paving assistance. He said the county had
researched the number of unpaved roads and determined that paving projects would be cost
prohibitive. He said the board, in office last year, felt the water situation would also be cost
prohibitive.
Commissioner Johnson said he had received telephone calls from individuals residing in
the northern end of the county advising of the same water problems.
Commissioner Williams said he had been experiencing water problems for the past 27
years. Williams noted that at the last meeting, the board had frozen the purchase of some capital
items requested in the FY O1-02 budget, due to budgetary concerns. He said the freeze on the
purchases was necessary due to the state withholding reimbursements for the county.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.