HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0259Niblock said he had talked with officials of the City of Statesville's utility
department, the closest water supplier for Lincoln Estates, and to representatives of
IredeIl Water Corporation, the closest supplier for River Hills Heights, and all of the
individuals said they would be willing to take over the systems, once the improvements
were made, but none were willing to install the systems.
Commissioner Norman asked if Mr. Nelson Brown still owned the Community
Water Works, Inc.
Niblock said yes.
Chairman Johnson asked if the owner still charged fees for the water services in
the subdivisions.
Niblock said yes.
Commissioner Williams asked if the owner was willing to upgrade the systems.
Niblock said the owner had been mandated by the North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (Water Quality) to make some repairs to the
systems.
Commissioner Madison asked what happened if the owner did not comply.
Niblock said he didn't know, but there was a moratorium prohibiting the owner
from connecting any other units to the systems.
Commissioner Madison said he understood the residents would not be able to
pay property owner assessments, if these were used to recoup the costs.
County Manager Mashburn said he had a letter from Mrs. Mildred Booker, who
represented some of the Lincoln Estates residents. He said the May 13, 2004 letter
advised that the residents would not be able to repay the $3,706 per lot, due to most of
them being senior citizens on fixed incomes. He continued by saying the residents
wanted the county to continue to search for grant money. Mashburn said the residents
also felt the City of Statesville might annex their properties, and this would provide
them with both water and sewer service.
Mildred Booker (2030 Kennedy Drive, Statesville) said her subdivision was
mostly composed of senior citizens living on fixed incomes. She said the residents
preferred to wait until grant money might be found, or until annexation of their
properties occurred.
Commissioner Madison said the residents would still have to pay if annexed.
Mrs. Booker said the residents understood this, but another part of their
reasoning was that they preferred to have both water and sewer.
Chairman Johnson said that with the Statesville annexation, property owners
could immediately tap on to water, but sewer did not occur until their septic systems
failed.
Mrs. Booker said the residents were also aware of this information.
Commissioner Madison asked Attorney Pope if the county had any authority to
improve the systems and to assess the costs to the owner of the Community Water
Works Company. Mr. Madison said this individual had been collecting money all these
years while the systems had deteriorated, and all along, the water company had been
issued permits to operate by the state utilities commission.