Vance gets planning grant for proposed Kittrell sewer
County Manager Jerry Ayscue reported at Monday’s meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners that Vance has obtained a $40,000 planning grant to study the feasibility of running a sewer line from Kittrell to Henderson along US 1 South.
The concept was first broached to the commissioners on April 6, 2009 by Economic Development Commission Chair Sam Watkins as a solution to sewage treatment problems that existed at the Kittrell Job Corps. The Job Corps has since renovated their treatment facility.
The grant requires a 10% local funding match, bringing the total amount of funding to $44,000.
When the board approved exploration of the proposal in May of 2009, then Chair Dan Brummitt stated explicitly that local funds would not be sought, but rather state and federal funds would be pursued for the project.
According to Ayscue, the study will determine if the project is feasible, the route the sewer line should take, and the maximum number it will serve. Ayscue emphasized that there has been strong interest from the Bearpond area, and that the project is a great opportunity for the county and the city to plan for growth in the county.
Board Chair Danny Wright commented that the study will have the blessings of the city of Henderson. Commissioner Dan Brummitt said that the proposal “is not the same project we looked at a few months ago”.
Board member Scott Hughes stated that the proposed sewer line needs to serve everyone on the route.
Earlier in the meeting, local government watchdog and former Henderson City Council candidate Lewis Edwards read a statement into the record of the meeting in opposition to the proposed sewer line. He said that he was opposed to the project because Vance County does not have, nor does it control a waste water treatment facility.
Edwards told members that pumping waste from one basin to another may be in violation of federal statutes as well.
Vance County straddles the Chowan and Roanoke drainage basins in the northern part of the county and the Tar and Pamlico basins in the southern end.
The former council candidate told Vance board members that [as a city resident] he was not interested in subsidizing the treatment of waste from Kittrell, and he submitted that his opinion is shared by “many other customers”
Edwards said that he does not believe the need for the project has been established, and that the proposal is a symptom of “build it and they will come syndrome”.
No more sewer additions until current problems are solved. Repair and replace leaking lines that allow overflows with every rainfall. Just a waste of taxpayer money to enrich others. And just what part of Vance county drains into Chowan basin?
Comment by Bob — January 5, 2010 @ 10:39 am
the townpeople of kittrell dont want it. the mayor pulled a sarah palin because he wanted it and the townspeople didnt. why the change?
Comment by route 39 — January 5, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
I agree with Lewis Edwards. This is just a farce to get taxpayers to fund the low income project that Humphrey Cobb and others are planning. Once again the taxpayers get fleeced.
Comment by Mr. Keene — January 5, 2010 @ 4:59 pm
What do the mayor of Kittrell thinks? Or the people of Kittrell?
Comment by THE REAL DEAL — January 5, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Why do you have to pay someone $40,000 to tell you that it will cost millions to send a sewer line from Kittrell to Henderson. Just pay me half that money and I can tell you the same thing.
Comment by Blackcat16 — January 5, 2010 @ 6:37 pm
I second that Blackcat16, I say we give you 20g’s to tell them the same thing and I will be your cheap consultant and I will work for a simple 5 grand.
Comment by kevin osborne — January 5, 2010 @ 6:53 pm
you’re right Blackcat16…why spend 40G for a study for a project when the initial “reason” for the line (Job Corp) isn’t there any more..they don’t want it.
No one wants or needs this project, that I have heard.
except for those who will benefit from sewer lines run to their 300 acres of land.
Then the RE guy and Developer (Garrison, et al?) who want a low income housing development there.
The people of Kittrell will have to pick up the tab for services, (police/fire/trash/etc).
and the people of Henderson and Vance County will have to maintain the line, and is simply not feasible..as Mr. Lewis points out.
Maybe if this project was being done for manufacturing or other job creating businesses..it would be make more sense..but so far…I’m not seeing any long term job creation in this project.
“Just Say No”
Comment by ziggy — January 5, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
The people of Kitrell may want to back out of this deal. The city of henderson can not even keep there own old worn out water lines repaired. Once again the cart is before the Horse. The City Council was obviously misled regarding the reason to propose running the line. ( Job Core) Certainly any current City Council member would be making a mistake to take on new responsibility before the requirements to maintain existing lines are properly performed. As Louis Edwaeds may say If it looks like a scunk. Acts like a scunk. Smells like a scunk. Probably is a scunk there somewhere.
Comment by That's the way it is — January 6, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
skunk.
Comment by ziggy — January 6, 2010 @ 11:32 pm
If the residents in Kittrell want it let them pay for it. There are places within one mile of the city line of Henderson that do not have sewage.
Comment by Blackcat16 — January 7, 2010 @ 7:51 am
Well I’m a Kittrell resident and believe me – WE DO NOT WANT IT!!!!
Comment by leave us alone — January 7, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
same here. i emailed dan brummit and said that we dont want it.
if he doesnt respond by monday – i am calling him.
if he doesnt return my calls – then im paying a visit.
Comment by route 39 — January 7, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
Don’t hold your breath!
Comment by Interesting — January 7, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
well since yall are already on this kick and you must have his email address handy, and there seem to be a lot of dissenters posting here, post his email address so that other readers can also email him. He’ll probably get a clearer picture of how much dissent is actually out there if he gets actual contact from folks, instead of just a handful of anonymous HiH objections. If it’s truly so radically opposed, the opposition needs to play a little hardball; this ain’t the place to do it.
Comment by Follow the White Lines on the Road — January 7, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
dbrummitt@vancecounty.org
Comment by route 39 — January 8, 2010 @ 1:48 pm
First, I would like to thank Jason for reporting my formal comments before the Vance County Board of County Commissioners regarding the proposed sewer line from Kittrell to Henderson. Unfortunately, The Daily Dispatch felt my action and position did not warrant any coverage even though their reporter was there and received a copy of my letter. Apparently, it was of greater service to the community to report that County Commissioner Scott Hughes won his court case to recover his tools? Go figure??
Second, I would request that everyone return to the earlier post referenced by Jason. I continue to be troubled by the fact that no issue ever seems to resolved in Henderson/Vance County until it meets the conditions desired by the significant few. It is like a child continuing to ask the same queation in as many different forms as possible until the desired answer is reached.
In reality, where the money to “create” the sewer line from Kittrell to Henderson originates is not important, the real issue remains that the excessive cost associated with maintaining the line will ultimately be paid by the customers in Henderson. Follow the money!! Remember, federal grants are but another way of saying tax dollars!
Early estimates suggest that at least two and probably three pump lift stations will be required to transfer the sewage UPHILL to join the existing Henderson System.
These pump stations will require large, expensive electric motors and daily maintenance. What happens when a 100 hp motor needs replacement? What about the extra truck and man required to maintain the lines? Certainly the customers in the Kittrell area can not absorb the extra cost? Ah!! But the TOTAL HENDERSON CUSTOMER CAN – who will or can object to an extra $ 10.00 per month?? ($10.00 X 12 months X 1 year X~ 5500 customers = $ 660,000!!!) Could there be a hidden agenda/motive here???
I am very much in favor of growth and expansion of our economic base. However, I will not relax my firm position that our city/county must first “clean up its act” by reducing crime, eliminating the high tax rate and improving the quality of education in our schools.
Straining our already overburdened infrastructure so that more “300 plus low income housing units can be constructed” is but another step closer to the abyss that represents the end of life in Henderson as we now know it!
Remember, we deserve what we are willing to accept.
Comment by Lewis H. Edwards — January 8, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
keep rocking the boat, Mr. Edwards.
Comment by ziggy — January 9, 2010 @ 1:19 am
white lines…your continued disdain for the posters of HiH makes me wonder why you hang out here with all of us lesser beings.
maybe you should stick with a web site with posters more deserving of your respect.
Comment by ziggy — January 9, 2010 @ 1:22 am
awww c’mon ziggy, cut me some slack. you know as well as i do that a few anonymous HiH comments that could – for all we know – be written by the same person or group of a few, regarding this sewer, aren’t the type of community organizing that it’s going to take to stop the sewer line. A few anonymous postings of objections on HiH are really more of a conceeding that it’s coming and you can’t stop it, you can only complain about it.
Comment by Follow the White Lines on the Road — January 9, 2010 @ 2:14 am
I suspect that there are several regular posters using different names..
that was evident during the local election..
IMHO…people seem to be coming more aware of issues and taking more interest about what happens to their tax dollars and back room deals.
HiH could have more impact then you might think.
one can only hope.
and anyway…what’s wrong with people having an outlet to complain and share their opinion?
Comment by ziggy — January 9, 2010 @ 4:08 am
This could be fixed by requiring all posters to use their real names.
Comment by kevin osborne — January 9, 2010 @ 4:12 am
limits freedom of speech.
Comment by ziggy — January 9, 2010 @ 4:30 am
It isn’t freedom of speech when one must use a moniker to speak. We deceive ourselves about how free we really are. Are you ‘free’ when speaking your thoughts might jeopardize your job or standing in the community? Fear and freedom are contradictory. Posting under our real names might improve civility, however.
Comment by Copper — January 9, 2010 @ 5:46 am
#21 – Kevin – you could put on there that your name is Bill Smith – nobody would know the difference.
Sometimes, the truth comes out more if you DON’T put a name. I for one have learned what is going on in our city with the politics because of HiH, and I hope it will continue like it is.
Comment by Interesting — January 9, 2010 @ 7:42 am
I tried that. It was called Who is Home in Henderson. It was up for over a year. No one visited, no one commented. I gave up and took it down.
Comment by Jason Feingold, Ed. — January 9, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
Just out of curiosity–does anyone else think that perhaps Copper uses another name on days when she isn’t feeling civil? Come on Copper, you HAVE to have days like that!
Comment by north star — January 9, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
There is a difference in being “optimistic” and just not believing that SOMETIMES things aren’t all rosy.
I think Copper is in denial a lot of the time.
It was a terrible thing that happened when she was robbed. I would be mad as you know what, and I am sure she is.
I still don’t understand why this person is not in jail if they know who he is, and this seems to be ok with Copper. Hopefully, by now he IS in jail. Anybody know?
PS I don’t have a clue about using another name on here. Who knows but Jason!!
Comment by Interesting — January 9, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
Interesting, IMHO, you have ruined this board so that only a few willing to put up with your jaded opinions will come on here.
I lurk from time to time and it’s always YOU picking on someone.
I remember the time about a year or so ago when you were nothing but pidgeon poop on here. They tried to run you off, but you are so obnoxious that you have stayed.
Why are you now picking on Copper?
Cooper, although I don’t agree with everything she writes, speaks from her heart and I respect that.
North Star is an unhappy person who has to pull down other people to make her/himself feel better. Maybe you don’t like getting old and useless.
There are a few nice folks on here, or so they seem, but the rest are a bunch of bickering old roosters and hens.
Comment by Using my freedom to speak — January 9, 2010 @ 5:20 pm
#28 – what an angry person you are.
What is a pidgeon? Best check the dictionary for that one! LOL
Picking on Copper? I don’t think so. Most times, I agree with what she says. The robbery is another story.
Old and Useless? Me? You must be speaking about yourself? CERTAINLY, you are not putting ME in that category.
Perhaps you should consider not lurking.
Comment by Interesting — January 9, 2010 @ 5:32 pm