Mount Olive is poised to grow if it can only get past a flooding problem. And leaders, buoyed by the prospects of grant funds, are determined to do just that.
The town’s aging, limited sewer system was no match for heavy rains that spewed forth sewer spills and led to a state-mandated moratorium in 2015. The moratorium prohibits the town from adding any new commercial or residential customers, scaring off growth for seven years now.
Most recently, the Mt. Olive Pickle Company announced an expansion, but had to procure two properties near Goldsboro to complete its plan.
“The moratorium is holding us back,” Mayor Ken Talton said during a meeting Monday with state Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) and officials from US Sen. Thom Tillis’ office at the capitol.
Talton and town commissioners made the trip to Raleigh to discuss grant options that could help them finish renovations at the Mount Olive Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The group assembled in a conference room and discussed a project list with representatives from the Golden Leaf Foundation, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the USDA North Carolina Agriculture Department.
All three agencies have funding in the pipeline.
Town officials must decide which direction to take and how to complete the paperwork by its respective deadline. The town’s engineer plans to research and submit a grant application to DEQ before May 2.
The main objective is to repair or replace the inflow and infiltration system inside the aging wastewater treatment plant. Spills were a major problem until the town examined sewer pipes and made some repairs on site.
More work is needed to lift the moratorium, however.
And the price tag has become steeper as well, much more than the original $2 million estimation for inside work submitted when project talks began. An additional $2 to $3 million is needed to finish the job.
The NC Division of Water Infrastructure officials said there are nearly 500 municipalities with water or sewer systems, and 115 are in stressed areas.
“We learned that our wastewater system has a good chance of getting these funds because we are a town with a very distressed system,” said Commissioner Dr. Barbara Kornegay. “Our commissioners will be attending a workshop about these funds and our engineer is already working on the application. All of our commissioners will be attending every workshop opportunity offered so that we can make sure we are applying for funds available.”
Commissioners Harlie Carmichael and Vicky Darden voiced their concerns about street funding and flood mitigation.
Bell promised to schedule a meeting with CSX, which put culverts under railroad tracks in other towns, including Smithfield.
Commissioner Dennis Draper suggested funding was needed to harvest the hay from the spray fields being completed at the wastewater treatment plant. More than 300 acres of dead sycamore trees were removed and underground pipes connected to sprinklers are now being installed.
The hay can be sold to local farmers.
“We had a very productive meeting with state agencies, exploring economic and funding opportunities for the town,” Rep. Bell said. “Mount Olive is my hometown and it’s an honor to work with our local leaders to help support the community.”
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