Board, mayor talk sewer study
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 21, 2017 5:50 AM
Fremont Mayor Darron Flowers Tuesday sought to clarify the town's position on a proposed feasibility study to look at the possibility of merging the sewer systems of Fremont, Eureka and Goldsboro.
"Fremont does endorse the sewer study," Flowers told Wayne County commissioners at their Tuesday morning session. "We agreed to it, and we certainly understand the need for it. But we do have some concerns about the tone of the article in the News-Argus (Monday).
"I am here just to clarify on behalf of Fremont our feelings about the study. We do agree to a feasibility study for the sewer program for all of the parties involved."
Flowers was not on the agenda, but spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting.
He did not explain what he meant about the tone of the article that noted that the feasibility study was non-binding.
"That study should be to provide data to each of the parties involved by which they can make better decisions for the immediate future and for the distant future," he said.
Commissioners approved proceeding with the study.
Wayne County Manager George Wood reiterated Flowers' comments.
"They have not said that they would agree to whatever the study says," Wood said. "They said they have agreed to do the study. Then each entity will then make its own decision at that point whether they will do it or not.
"One the keys we felt was to have a 10-year capital improvements plan. I think that is going to be one of the key issues --whether or not each entity can afford to properly handle replacement equipment in a timely manner. That would be the 10-year capital improvements plan. We have that component in there."
Wood said the county had sought additional funding to provide for a more expansive study but was told the money was not available.
The study is voluntary and a sharing of information, Assistant County Manager Craig Honeycutt said.
"There is nothing mandatory on any entity to do anything once they have the information," he said.
The county is managing the $50,000 grant that was provided by the Local Government Commission for the study.
In July, commissioners awarded the contract to Freese and Nichols Inc. pending negotiations on the cost. The company agreed to do the work for the amount provided by the grant.
That is what commissioners approved on Tuesday.
The non-binding feasibility study could take up to six months.
It will examine the possible consolidation of the Fremont/Eureka sewer systems and the possible merger of Goldsboro, Fremont, Eureka and Wayne County sewer systems.
The potential costs of rates, long-term rates, infrastructure needs and its potential effect on Goldsboro and Wayne County will be examined as well.
The company will look at assets and the infrastructure of all the systems.
Freese and Nichols Inc. will partner with Raftelis Financial Consultants of Cary to do the financial piece of the project that will look at rates and capital funding needs.
Once the study is completed all of the parties will meet to work out what the next steps will be. The process will include public meetings.