LYNCHBURG — The Metro Utilities Department Board voted Tuesday night to reallocate $123,000 in remaining bond funds toward completing two major infrastructure projects — the tube settler replacement at the water treatment plant and the Turkey Creek line extension along Highway 82.
Those funds are left over from a 2021 project to build two water pumping booster stations to increase water pressure in the south end of the county.
During his report, Board Member Glenn Thomas explained that the department still had $123,000 left from a $1.3 million municipal bond. The board voted unanimously to apply the remaining funds to the tube settler installation at the Metro Moore County Water Plant and associated engineering costs, with any leftover balance to support the Turkey Creek line extension.
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Manager Ronnie Cunningham told the board that three crews began installing new meters last week, though only two crews were working on Tuesday.
“Since we’re still paying interest on that money, we need to go ahead and use it,” Thomas said. “The tube settler bid came in at $70,900, plus engineering. Whatever’s left will go toward Turkey Creek.”
Board members also discussed the possibility of adding booster pumps along Highway 82 to extend water lines to folks in the northeast section of the county, though they agreed to wait for engineering input including a hydraulic study before committing. Thomas noted that the line extension is meant to help connect more homes in the area to public water while keeping long-term costs down.
“My thought is we’re here to get people water,” he said. “And I think we can do this for less than half a million dollars.”
Thomas made the motion to shift the funds and Greg Guinn seconded. It passed unanimously. There was no formal motion to move forward with the Highway 82 Project.
The Metro Utility Board meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the MUD offices located at 705 Fayetteville Highway. To be added to the addenda for the November meeting, contact them at 931-759-4297. •
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