The county will apply for the funds as a Community Development Block Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Community Assistance Division.
County Manager Rick Sago told commissioners the second phase of the project would provide access to about 50 or 60 more homes, including one with a contaminated well.
“Originally, the project was out to 177 to tie-in with Ponderosa (Road),” Sago told commissioners, explaining a lack of funding meant the project was broken into two phases.
He said the second phase will cost about $850,000.
“Clearly, $600,000 is a start toward that,” Sago said. “There’s no guarantee we’ll get that money, but we have had conversations over conference calls and have been encouraged to go ahead and apply for them
Corletta Grant, a concerned citizen, addressed the board asking whether her daughter’s home on Highway 177 would be covered in the second phase.
“She has some problems with her water,” Grant told commissioners.
Sago responded if the county is able to obtain the funding it seeks, it would allow her to hook into the county water system.
Commissioner Don Bryant then asked Sago how many homes would be covered by the new line, and was told 50 or 60.
“Is it anyway to make it mandatory for them to tie-on?” Bryant asked."
Sago said county administration had engaged in those discussions, but didn’t believe that would be a legal option, but said the county has offered citizens the option of tying-in at a discounted rate in the first six months after a line is installed.
In other business:
Richmond Interagency Transportation Director Johnnie Morman was given approval by commissioners to seek about $465,000 from the state.
“We would be replacing about half of our vehicles with this application,” Morman said, explaining the money would also cover administrative expense.
State Department of Transportation District Engineer Kevin Hedrick presented commissioners with a plan for secondary road improvement this year.
There are about $1 million available for 2011, Hedrick said.
Commissioners were given an update on agency activities by Sandhills Center Area Director Victoria Whitt.
Richmond County Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robert Beck presented commissioners with the long-term facility needs of the county school district.
He said an estimated $49 million will be needed to update facilities in the future.
Gary Walker, of Walker Marketing, updated commissioners on his firm’s partnership with the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority.
Commissioners unanimously approved a Working Lands Protection Plan, making the county eligible for grant money connected the base realignment at Fort Bragg.
Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at pbrown@heartlandpublications.com.
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