Canton bureau chief
A proposal to extend water and sewer to Bethel has divided residents of that rural community.
While some are opposed to the county’s plans, others in the area south of Canton say the need is critical.
One thing both sides agree on, however, is that the county’s plan is vague and is being made prior to any input from Bethel property owners.
Information shared by Joel Storrow of McGill Associates at the commissioners’ annual retreat Feb. 27 indicated the proposed 12-inch water and sewer lines would run from Canton to the site of the new Bethel elementary school on N.C. 215.
“It’s a real bad idea going up the back side of the river and to let the school be the driving force for doing that,” said Robert Cathey, who lives off N.C. 110 in a heavily populated subdivision near the Pigeon River.
That’s because the majority of the homes and discharge on the N.C. 110 side of the river, Cathey said. It would be foolish for commissioners to run the water and sewer lines and not cross the river at some point to service those homes.
“We haven’t decided where the lines would go,” said Bill Noland, chairman of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners.
“Our engineering firm hasn’t told us which way is the most feasible. We’ll sort that out as we go,” Noland said.
Having water available for use by the Center Pigeon Fire Department, as well as nearby Cruso and Lake Logan-Cecil fire departments, will assist them in protecting lives and property, said Lenny Kirkendall, safety officer for the Center Pigeon Fire Department.
“When it comes to putting a fire out, it is critical for firefighters to have access to water and right now the closest water source is in Canton,” he said.
And, when it comes to saving money, having water lines and hydrants would reduce property insurance premiums significantly, Kirkendall said.
“Right now our fire department has a Class 9 fire rating. Homeowners within a mile and a half of a hydrant would see a drop in the cost of fire insurance from $547 a year on a $90,000 home to about $367,” he said.
Most of the soil in the Bethel community is not suitable for septic tanks, therefore if the older systems ever fail it would be expensive, and maybe impossible, to re-permit them or replace them, Cathey said.
At least 27 homes in the Bethel area were straight-piping waste directly into the river, according to a survey conducted by the county in 2000.
The longer the county waits to extend the services, the more expensive it is going to be, Cathey said. And, when the lines are finally run, it will be less expensive for homeowners to tap on at that time than to tap on later, he added.
The Pigeon Valley Citizens for Rural Preservation say they are opposed to the planned lines for several reasons, including over-development, which could lead to annexation by the town of Canton; less open space for agriculture; more traffic, sedimentation, pollution and declining water quality brought on by new development, the group said.
But, if the group wants to preserve the rural integrity of the Bethel valley, the best way to do that would be through water and sewer services, proponents of the plan say. Canton’s water ordinance and the county subdivision ordinance will help slow down uncontrolled growth, those who want the lines say.
Even if that would control growth, there is no guarantee that such ordinances wouldn’t change, said Bill Holbrook, a member of Pigeon Valley Citizens for Rural Preservation.
“The next board of commissioners could change it, just like we thought we wouldn’t be fighting this water and sewer again but the next board has brought it back up,” Holbrook said.
“The only thing that will protect our community from growth is to not have water and sewer,” he said.
Employees at Silver Bluff Village, a retirement center that houses 175 residents, say they have been waiting for 20 years for water and sewer.
“Commissioners promised us when we opened in 1984 that within five years we would have water and sewer,” said Tommy Sorrells, maintenance supervisor at Silver Bluff.
“We treat 30,000 gallons of wastewater a day and we have to monitor our treatment plant every week day and report any violations to the state,” said Bob Leatherwood, Silver Bluff Administrator.
Commissioners cited two reasons for moving quickly on the proposed project: a March 31 deadline to apply for a state grant to help pay for the water and sewer extensions, and the two-year timeline for opening a new Bethel Elementary School.
While it would be less expensive to have on-site water and sewage treatment, being connected to Canton’s water and sewer would be the ideal way to provide those services and would eliminate the requirement for continuous testing, said Assistant Superintendent John McCracken.
A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel Elementary, where commissioners will hear from the community about the proposed water and sewer lines. Opponents and proponents of the proposed water and sewer lines say they plan to be there.
Peggy Gosselin can be reached at 452-0661, ext. 127, or at peggyg@themountaineer.com.