For years, the Town of Pittsboro has sought ways to improve its water and sewer infrastructure to prepare for its fast-growing population. Last week, the local government officially cleared one of its final hurdles to a long-term solution.
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its side of an interlocal agreement with the City of Sanford, a key step for the larger government to merge its more powerful water systems with Pittsboro’s.
“I just want to start by thanking staff for their diligence, thanking the legal council for their hard work, and [thanking] the commenting public,” said Mayor Cindy Perry as the board arrived to the specific items on its agenda.
Perry said the efforts of those groups helped ensure the move is in Pittsboro’s best interests. The first draft of the interlocal agreement – which is a binding contract between two governments – was shared in June and drew much feedback. Since then, from public comment and suggestions by the town commissioners, staff have tweaked the agreement to formally begin giving Sanford control over Pittsboro’s water and sewer operations.
While this version of the agreement has only been in writing for weeks, the town has explored several options for improving its infrastructure for water. Conversations with Sanford started prior to 2020 about enacting an interlocal agreement before the plans fell apart. But local officials determined long ago the cost of upgrading the small town’s significantly older system would be too much for its population compared to partnering with a nearby government that has updated, consistent water and sewer infrastructure.
Commissioner Pamela Baldwin said she’s dealt with utility problems by the town since first being elected in 2005. Since then, she said Pittsboro passed several improvements – but they have always been short-term stop-gap solutions for their water and sewer deficits. She described the approval of a partnership with Sanford as “a long time coming.”
“It wasn’t about growth in 2005, because as you all know, none of [this] growth had occurred then,” said Baldwin. “It was just: we did not have the capacity. I think this is a good alternative, and if there was a way for us to build [a] wastewater treatment plant – and also to build another [drinking] water plant if necessary – then certainly we would do it. But I think this is our best option and think we should move forward with that.”
During the public comment period on the agreement, many residents shared hesitancy about turning over control of water services after Pittsboro made recent investments to greatly improve drinking water quality. Within the last year, the government installed a granulated-activated carbon (GAC) filter to remove long-lasting chemicals called PFAS from the town’s water supply. Residents voiced concerns about seeing that quality slip if operated by another government not willing to go beyond federal water quality standards.
But Commissioner John Bonitz pointed out during the meeting that the City of Sanford pledged to install its own GAC filter and has regularly seen high marks for its drinking water quality. He said based on that, and Pittsboro lacking the “economy of scale” for the necessary infrastructure improvements, he feels more comfortable with the interlocal agreement.
“Because Sanford is committed to the same level of water filtration as we already have, this deal is acceptable,” Bonitz said. “In short, this deal gives us breathing room and water and sewer capacity we need to avoid a financial meltdown.”
A view of the Haw River, Pittsboro’s drinking water source. To handle the major population growth the town is experiencing, the government decided a merger was a faster, more cost-effective way to ensure consistent services instead of building its own infrastructure. (Photo via the Chatham News + Record.)
Beyond seeking a merger to prevent raising the utility rates for residents, Pittsboro’s commissioners approved a five percent decrease in rates on Monday night – crediting the partnership with Sanford as the reasoning for this. In time, the town says Pittsboro residents can expect to see their rates drop lower to what Sanford residents pay, which is about half of Pittsboro’s current rate.
Commissioner Kyle Shipp thanked town staff for their negotiations with Sanford to strike this additional sweetener to the merger deal.
“We certainly have had to increase utility rates for good reasons,” he said, “but it’s good to be able to decrease them a little bit and get back some of what we’ve had to increase for our customers and residents. Thanks for getting this agreement done.”
In addition to this new partnership, Pittsboro’s in another interlocal agreement with Sanford, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina to have upgrades installed at Sanford’s wastewater treatment plant to handle all of those outgoing sewer needs. The board of commissioners also unanimously approved a filtration facility expansion as part of that partnership at its Monday meeting.
Now, the City of Sanford’s elected officials will need to approve the interlocal agreement in August. After that, the takeover of Pittsboro’s water and sewer operations is required to be complete by July 2024.
More information about the approved merger, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found on the Town of Pittsboro’s website.
Photo via the Town of Pittsboro.
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