McDowell County rethinks water system

By: Mike Conley | Morganton News Herald
Published: April 16, 2009

Nebo --

Four years ago, McDowell County and the city of Marion entered into an agreement that extended water service to some folks in Nebo who badly needed it. In the agreement, the county owned the water lines and agreed to pay the city for the maintenance work, meter reading and billing customers.
Now, county officials apparently want to take over the operation of Nebo's water system too. They say high outside rates charged by the city discourage some customers from hooking up to the lines.
The Nebo water system was discussed during Monday's regular meeting of the McDowell County commissioners. County Manager Chuck Abernathy said he's spent a considerable amount of time looking into this problem.
"I share your opinion that the development of the system is not fully materializing because of the fees charged by the city of Marion," Abernathy wrote in a memo to the board. "In other words, the fees are prohibiting our goal of fully building a system and establishing a customer base to sustain a water filtration system on Lake James."
County officials compared Marion's rates for outside water customers to those in other western North Carolina cities and towns. They say Marion's outside rates are in the top 25 in this area.
Abernathy said the bill for a typical 4,000 gallons per month for a customer in Marion is $18.33. The same amount costs an outside customer $45.82.
"I have spoken to several citizens that have told me they would like to go on our system, but cannot afford the monthly rate," wrote Abernathy. "There may also be people that have paid to connect, have installed the plumbing and then have gone off of the system after finding out the monthly amount. I do not have this confirmed, but have been told this is the case."
He said the county should have done a better job letting folks in Nebo know how much it would cost them.
The Nebo system has 165 customers. County officials estimate 35 more would connect with the system in the next year from Watson Road, Sherwood Forest and Harmony Grove Road.
"In addition, the city has indicated that they would back ownership of the system to Highway 70 prior to Highway 126," wrote Abernathy.
This would transfer Dollar General, the post office, Nebo Elementary, the convenience store and several small houses to the county system.
Abernathy said the county could operate the system and charge the customers half of the current rate. The county would no longer pay the city to maintain the lines, read the meters and conduct tests.
County officials talked about whether the county could operate the system, contract with a private company to do so or contract with another city or town. Abernathy said he talked with a private contractor and with the town of Old Fort about operating the system. Both are interested in helping out. Also, he talked with Terry DePoyster, the county's maintenance director, about possibly becoming the system's operator. DePoyster said he would be willing to go to the schools and become certified.
"The permit is in our name," said Abernathy. "We would simply assume operations."
Commissioner Michael Lavender said the county has got to get those rates down for the Nebo customers. "Maybe it is time we start getting that revenue," he added.
No vote was taken, by commissioners agreed to put this on May's agenda.
"I am ready to move forward, not fast, but in a step-by-step process and this is the first step," said Commission Vice Chairman Barry McPeters.
The agreement signed in 2005 was for 10 years. Both the commissioners and the City Council would have to agree to changes if they modify the agreement before then.
"There's some ideas being discussed concerning what would be in the best interest of the Nebo customers and the city and county," acknowledged City Manager Bob Boyette. "It's their system and that is certainly one possibility."
According to Boyette, no Nebo customer has disconnected from the system.

McDowell County rethinks water system

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