Greene County commissioners approve alternative water supply project

SNOW HILL - The Greene County Commission approved a resolution Monday to provide an alternative water supply to county residents, water which Greenville Utilities Commission will supply.

Ralph Hodge Construction Company plans to begin work on the project in 90 days, which includes building water transmission lines and elevated storage water tanks.

It will cost $10.1 million for Ralph Hodge Construction Company to complete the line work. Caldwell Tanks, Inc. will construct and supply the system's elevated water storage tanks and controls for $4.9 million.

Both Greene County and Farmville have agreed to build joint facilities, which will supply the GUC water. Farmville commissioners will meet tonight and decide if they will proceed with the revised project. The alternative system will supply water from Frog Level along U.S. 264 and U.S. 13 to Langs Crossroad.

Van Lewis of McDavid Associates, a Farmville based firm, presented a resolution to the Greene County Commission at the county office complex.

"I met with the contractors and we reduced the cost of the project every way we could," he said. "The project's cost was reduced by $975,000."

Commissioners agreed that supplemental funding from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan was needed to help build the alternative water supply system. The $2 million loan will substantially reduce any shortfalls in funding, Lewis said.

Before approving the resolution, commissioner Bennie Heath said, "We have been moving in this direction all along. It's time to take action."

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.