According to Vance County Board of Commission Chair Dan Brummitt, the county must withdraw from its planned Phase 1B of its water plan to allow the Kittrell Water Association (KWA) to proceed with the plan in its place.
Brummitt made those remarks during Monday’s regular meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.
According to the board chair, Kittrell’s board has met and has committed to the project.
The county’s withdrawal is necessary for the KWA to proceeding with funding requests from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA will not fund competing requests.
Brummitt asked if the county commissioners needed to convene as the Water Board to set a public hearing on the issue. County Attorney Jonathan Care stated that it was his understanding that a public hearing is not necessary for the KWA to move forward with its plan. He also informed members that the board could not convene as the Water Board during the meeting.
A body of elected officials must provide at least 48 hours notice before convening a meeting under North Carolina law.
Without taking an official vote, the board reached a consensus to allow the KWA to proceed with Phase 1B. Member Danny Wright opined that the KWA may get water to citizens more quickly that the county might have because it is “more experienced”.