Upgrades to Havelock water system could cost over $10 million

By Drew C. Wilson

Freedom ENC

HAVELOCK - The city may have to spend more than $10 million to improve its water system to keep up with anticipated growth through 2020, according to a consultant's report.

Todd Davis and Tom Tant, of Hazen and Sawyer, showed commissioners a computer model projection of water demands in the future at a meeting Wednesday night.

Included was the anticipated construction of as many as 1,900 homes west of Tucker Creek and new growth within current city limits.

By 2020, daily water use would be 1.69 million gallons, increasing to 2.04 million gallons by 2030, according to projections.

In 2007, average water use in the city was 1.25 million gallons.

Davis and Tant recommended that 58,000 feet of 12-inch water pipe be extended west to handle the projected growth and that a second water treatment plant be constructed near the city's western boundary.

Davis also suggested extending a main water line 3,200 feet along Lake Road to handle possible growth related to the expected U.S. 70 bypass.

Tant said the ability to fight fires in the projected growth area would be hampered if the city did not upgrade its system.

The commissioners agreed that all of the upgrades and pipe extensions are not possible at one time because of funding. They first considered a 5,000-foot connection between Cunningham Boulevard and Miller Road that would cost about $600,400.

They asked Tant and Davis to produce engineering for the connection.

Pete Deaver, public utilities supervisor, said he thought the connection could be done by city employees. No timeline was given.

In other business Wednesday night:

-- The commissioners met with architect Jim Stumbo, of Stewart-Cooper-Newell, about the structural repairs and improvements to the city administrative facilities.

The city expects a $600,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finance improvements to the City Hall complex, but commissioners have not completed plans for the renovations.

Mayor Jimmy Sanders said that the existing board meeting hall should be converted into office space, with board meetings moved to the city's old fire station. City workers could temporarily use the old senior center while renovations are taking place.

The board directed Stumbo to produce a master plan by late January for consideration.

-- The commissioners heard from City Planner Scott Chase about proposed changes in the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zone overlay. The city had been working on changes for several months. The commissioners agreed hold a public hearing about the proposed changes at a future meeting.