By Sonny Jones
Wastewater treatment regionalization has been discussed at times since the 1980s. Now, the state is offering grants to study the topic some more.
The Clarkton Board of Commissioners learned about options for wastewater treatment Tuesday night at its regularly scheduled meeting at Town Hall.
The board also approved a $25 business registration fee and $25 annual license fee effective immediately. The state legislature had repealed the fees since 2015, but have re-enacted the statute to allow for the fees. Clarkton had the fees prior to the legislature’s action.
Clarkton last upgraded its wastewater treatment plant in 2010 when it was deemed more cost effective than sending wastewater to either Elizabethtown or Fairmont.
“It’s an ongoing effort to look at (regionalization) again,” said Michael Wicker (pictured above), who is an engineer with the Cary-based civil and environmental engineering firm Withers Ravenel. “When we did the wastewater plant upgrade (in 2010), we had to look at alternatives. The reason we did the upgrade was it still was the cheapest alternative to upgrade the plant here.”
That may still be the case, but Jim Perry of the Lumber River Council of Governments, told the board that funding is available to look at options.
“There’s a ton of money right now,” Perry said. “A lot of infrastructure money.
“In my opinion, in a few years we’re all going to be paying for this and the money you see now isn’t going to be around. If you want to seize an opportunity I don’t know of a better time than now.”
Perry said that Bladenboro and White Lake each have received $50,000 grants to study wastewater treatment options.
The deadline for this round of grant applications is Sept. 30, but Perry told the board another round of grants will be available next spring.
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners recently hosted a meeting with representatives from several towns to discuss regionalization of wastewater treatment. Representatives from Clarkton, Bladenboro, White Lake and Elizabethtown attended, according to Perry.
“Consensus around the table was that people were interested in at least pursing it,” Perry said.
Wicker cautioned the board to “have your eyes open” during negotiations about partnering for wastewater treatment.
Wicker mentioned areas to consider include:
• What are carrier costs for running a plant versus letting somebody do it?
• What would the savings be for operational maintenance and will that be enough to offset paying somebody else to do that?
• Are you going to be surcharged for that flow?
“If you’re having to pump (wastewater) to somebody else and pay a treatment cost that can snag you pretty quick,” Wicker said. “You have to consider that when you look at regionalization. You can have some fairly substantial bills.
“Those are the type of negotiations you should be aware of to discuss. I think you should discuss it with different partners, but just have your eyes open about those concerns.”
The board took no action on the issue.
In other business:
• Amended the fiscal year 2021-22 budget by $235,198 after receiving American Rescue Funds of $117,599 and Federal Emergency Management Agency funds of $117,599.
• The town was fined $378.28 by N.C. Division of Environmental and Natural Resources for a violation in March of discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements at its treatment plant.
• Approved continuation of the Bladen County Division of Aging Senior Nutrition Program at Town Hall.
• Agreed to continue the labor contract for street clean up.
• Delayed purchasing new picnic tables for E.J. Cox Park.
The board’s next scheduled meeting is Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
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