Pittsboro Board of Commissioners Formally Approve Sanford Merger Agreement, Explain Splashpad Closure

The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners met at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 24, at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center to explain the splash pad closure, to revise utility rates for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year and to approve the town’s water merger agreement with the City of Sanford.

Town Manager Jonathan Franklin said the town is having issues with the splashpad pumps staying primed.

“We believe air is getting into the supply lines,” he said. “A crew is slated to come and camera those lines this week or next.”

On Saturday, July 22, public information officer Colby Sawyer informed the town that the splashpad, located at Knight Farm Community Park, was closed.

“We want to reassure our community that the safety and well-being of our residents are our top priorities. We will not reopen the splash pad until we are confident that the issue has been thoroughly identified and resolved,” Sawyer said in a statement.

Pittsboro Parks and Recreation said the community would be updated as the issues are resolved to allow the splashpad to reopen.

In addition, the commissioners unanimously approved to decrease the utility rates by 5% for the Fiscal Year 2023-24, effective Aug. 1.

Franklin said this “means the average customer will see a 5% reduction in their monthly utility bill, on average. This reduction was possible due to the merger and the immediate cost savings.”

The commissioners also unanimously approved a Sanford Water Filtration Expansion Agreement between the Town of Pittsboro, the City of Sanford, the Town of Holly Springs, and the Town of Fuquay-Varina.

“The expansion will provide advanced treatment facilities at the Sanford plant,” Franklin said.

The commissioners also approved the merger agreement for the City of Sanford and the Town of Pittsboro. Every commissioner took the time to thank everyone involved in the agreement and the work that was put into it.

“This has been a long time in coming,” Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin said.

Finally, the commissioners also unanimously adopted a resolution proposing to change the mayors two-year term to a four-year term. They set a public hearing meeting on this topic for Aug. 14 to hear community input.

This resolution will be formally voted on Sept. 11.

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