Local News - January 2004

County to hear water needs

Published January 12, 2004

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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County leaders will discuss water line extensions and future projects during a special-called meeting Thursday.

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners will meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Commissioners Room of the Citizens Center. The meeting is open to the public.

Board members and county utilities officials plan to review requests for water line extensions received by the county over the past few years, said Steve Gilbert, director of public works.

Gilbert said nine to 10 different groups have sent in requests and petitions to be put on county water.

The size of the locations varies from four to five residences to 20 to 30, he said.

Officials will look at the requests and see how they stack up against the county’s policy.

This is the first time in years the county has been able to do this because of funding restraints, Gilbert said. There has been no money allocated for extensions in previous budgets.

But this year, the county came in under budget on several water improvement projects in the east end of the county and found it had money leftover.

Gilbert said the money could probably fund a couple of the extension requests.

He hopes to present the schedules for two of the extension projects and set the dates to advertise bids during Thursday’s meting.

Gilbert’s office sent invitations to representatives of each group that has submitted petitions over the last several years, he said.

The board will also discuss the possibility of extending water and sewer to the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Regional Airport.

Local economic development leaders have been lobbying for water and sewer at the airport, saying it would make it more attractive to larger industries and groups like NASCAR.

Offering sewer services to the Lincoln County Industrial Park will also be on the agenda, Gilbert said.

The board will also convene as the governing board of the East Lincoln Water and Sewer District to discuss cash flow projections related to the recently adopted 20-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Public comments are welcome on all issues.

For additional information, call the Public Works Department at 704-736-8497.

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See WATER / 15

WATER

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