Bolton hears details of sewer hookups, new development

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Dozens of Bolton residents crammed the town hall Tuesday for an update on the town’s sewer expansion and a proposed housing development.

Mayor Frank Wilson explained to the crowd that the meeting wasn’t a regular assembly of the aldermen, but “a meeting to inform you of what’s happening in town.”

Topping the agenda was a status report on the town’s sewer system.

Tyndall Lewis, an engineer with McDavid Associates, told residents they have until Feb. 28 to sign up for the service at a reduced rate. The pre-construction fee for taps is $75, and jumps to $1,000 after the deadline.

“You can see the advantages to signing up as soon as possible,” he said.

The latest step in the process has been years in the making.

Bolton originally tried to build a new plant, Lewis explained, but the low ground and high water table made such a project nearly impossible. Then the town tried to contract with Lake Waccamaw to process its wastewater, but the lake town’s system couldn’t handle the additional usage.

Instead, both Lake Waccamaw and Bolton will eventually tie into two pumping stations that will carry wastewater to Whiteville’s plant, which is undergoing a major renovation. The towns had to wait for that project to be finalized before starting work on Bolton’s system, Lewis said.

“It’s been a long road,” he said.

Water and sewer customers must sign on to the system, Lewis explained. Homeowners won’t have to immediately abandon functioning septic tanks, although they will be encouraged to do so, Lewis said. He also explained that if sufficient funds are available, the town hopes to be able to offer to pump, crush and fill septic tanks for water and sewer customers at the same time new hookups are made.

“That will depend entirely on how much money is left,” he said.

Each of the potential 284 customers in Bolton will have a storage tank and grinder wired to the home’s electrical system. The grinder helps break down the bulk of waste to make it easier to pump and process, Lewis said. The tank can also hold up to one days’ worth of an average household’s wastewater.

In the event of a power failure from a storm or other problem, Lewis explained, the town could pump individual tanks using generators. The grinders are equipped with an electrical outlet for emergency pumping.

“It would take some moving,” he said, “but we could avoid an overflow situation like that if we had a hurricane that cut off the power.”

Lewis also said the grinders shouldn’t add more than fifty cents per month to the average home electric bill.

The engineer also explained that if potential customers don’t have immediate access to a public right of way, they will be required to obtain an access before tying on to the system.

New water and sewer customers will be required to post a $50 deposit, Lewis said, which is refundable if they move. The town’s average water and sewer bill is expected to be $15 per month plus $4.05 per 1,000 gallons.

“Most customers will have monthly bills of around $35.25,” he said.

Construction is expected to begin in May, with a completion date of May 2008 to coincide with the upgrade of the Whiteville treatment plant.

Lewis emphasized that the town’s government was “doing all they can” to keep the cost down for residents.

Another speaker at Tuesday’s meeting said he hopes to expand the number of planned taps from 284 to over 300.

Derrick Blanks of A&A Facility Services Inc., a development firm, announced his plans to build 55 to 65 homes in a proposed new subdivision in Bolton.

The homes would be on a 40 acre tract between Higher Street and Blacksmith Road, and lots would be between .3 and .4 acres.

The homes would be targeted toward working class families, Blanks said, and prices would start at $115,000.

“I hope this is going to be a big boost to the community,” Blanks said.

A native of Leland, Blanks said he saw how the building boom there caused many lower income residents to sell their homes due to increased property values and taxes. Brunswick County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state, Blanks said, and it’s “only a matter of time before that growth comes to Bolton.”

“This is a way people can go ahead and get their homes before it becomes too costly for the average family,” Blanks explained.

Blanks said he worked on the Lanvale Hills project in Leland, as well as the St. James development. With land becoming scarce in Brunswick and New Hanover, Blanks said, “people are already watching Bolton.

“They are looking this way,” he said. “We hope this will be a way for people to stake their claim here before the rush gets underway.”

No firm date has been set for a groundbreaking, Blanks said. The developers are working closely with architects and town staff on the project.

In other business, Roger Sheat of the N.C. STEP (Small Town Economic Prosperity) program explained to the residents about the program and his role with the local STEP cluster, which includes Sandyfield, East Arcadia and Bolton.

“I’m not a manager,” he said. “I see myself as a coach.”

The STEP program uses funding from the Rural Center to investigate and encourage economic development in distressed areas. The Bolton group chose to emphasize developing entrepreneurial skills and boosting small business in the area.

Nancy Johnson of the SMART Group will hold a small business forum at East Arcadia School Feb. 17.

Johnson said the forum will help potential small business owners develop business skills and create a business plan.

“We want to encourage everyone to participate in this,” Sheat said. “This will be a great stepping stone for anyone.”

For more information about the forum, call 646-1718.