The water system that serves Foxfire Village will be absorbed into the countywide system operated by Moore County Public Utilities [MCPU], if the Village Council approves a recommendation made by the Long Range Planning [LRP] Committee. But any such approval is likely to come only after a substantial period of public discussion.
After almost two years of research and study, the Committee presented its recommendation during the Council's Tuesday, February 12 regular meeting.
LRP's water infrastructure sub-committee conducted a needs assessment of the Village’s current water sources and also analyzed the Village's current and future ability to operate and maintain its water department.
Four Options Considered
The committee examined the long-term viability of four options, considering factors including catastrophic events; supply and demand; and operational and maintenance expenses.
The four options were:
• Foxfire Village continuing to own and operate its own water system;
• The Village would continue to own the water system but contract out the day-to-day operations and management of the system;
• Foxfire would sell its water system to a private utility company; or
• Foxfire would interconnect with Moore County water system and purchase its water directly from Moore County.
Councilman Mick McCue presented the the Long Range Planning Committee's recommendation that the Village consider an interconnection with Moore County.
“Moore County was interested in hooking us up to their water system," McCue said. "They would pay for it and construct a water main from Linden Road. The county would absorb the current debt owed and take ownership of our elevated tank and our water delivery system. They are not interested in our wells or well sites.”
The Details
McCue filled in the outlines of a possible deal that would transfer the Village system into County hands:
• Moore County would pay for and construct the water supply water main from the current system to the Foxfire Village elevated tank.
• The County would absorb the current debt owed by the Foxfire Village water system -- approximately $400,000 -- and would have the right to refinance current debt.
• MCPU would take ownership of the elevated tank and the distribution system, but not the Village's wells and well sites. Foxfire will be responsible for operation and abandonment of the existing wells after the water supply water main is constructed. The wells must be removed from connection to the distribution system.
• Moore County would take over the operation of the current well-water system until such time as the interconnection is complete, once the agreement with the County is approved.
• Foxfire water rates would remain at present levels until the County recoups the cost of interconnecting the two water systems. Once that cost is covered, the County's rate schedule would apply in Foxfire. At current rates, a Foxfire home using 2,000 gallons of water a month would pay $22.00 per month; an MCPU customer using the same would pay $12.20.
• Any retained earnings that the Foxfire Village water system has on hand will remain with the Village.
Seeking Citizen Input
To better inform Village residents, McCue said, “The recommendation will be put the website -- and other documentation as well.”
McCue also said that, during the council's deliberations, public hearings and other public comment opportunities should be made available.
Councilwoman Leslie Frusco thanked the committee for the time and effort they put into the report. “It’s well prepared and gives the council food for thought and consideration.”
If it’s Not Broke . . .
Prior to McCue’s presentation, LRP member Mary Anne Lauer spoke in opposition to the water proposal during public comment.
Lauer said that she had missed a few meetings, but wasn’t aware that there was a rush to act.
“I am opposed to selling our water," she said. "However, if we are going to choose an alternative, then I do think Moore County is the best one."
Lauer credited the committee for their thorough work, but did not agree with their reasoning. “We cannot operate on a doomsday approach," she said. "What if it gets contaminated, we run out, or something happens to the aquifer? What is going to happen to the aquifer?” asked Lauer. “No one can decide that.”
Referring to the concern that the growth of the Village could outpace the water supply, Lauer said that running out of water wasn’t plausible. “One hundred people per year for the next ten years would have to move to Foxfire Village before the water would run out,” she argued.
Lauer pointed out that the Village has made a substantial investment in improving the water system over the last several years. “We had the electrical system redone and we just paid to rework the water tower,” she said. “It is self supporting.”
Lauer also worried that the proposed sale to the County would only cover the debt owed on the system.
“Our water bills would stay the same,” she said. “Currently, we annex people because they want our water. They pay us taxes when we annex them."
"I just don’t see any need to do it. And that’s the reason I am against selling the water.”
With Careful Deliberation
“We did not undertake this lightly,” said Mayor Pro Tem Steve Durham, who also serves on the Long Range Planning Committee. “This is something that the council will not undertake lightly. Do not leave here and think we are going to have our water system taken over next week. This is a long range plan. We will have public hearings and public comments to allow people to come and give their input.”
Reassuring those present, Durham said that the reason for the study was to consider all options. “Our current water system is good, and it works well.”
