by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

A discussion about a proposed water contract with Inman-Campobello Water District (ICWD) included chair Ted Owens making assurances that public hearings will be included in the process, and commissioner Ray Gasperson expressing disgust with the current proposal.

Commissioners met Nov. 3, the night before last week’s general election. The board went into closed session for attorney-client privilege during the meeting. They did not make any decisions upon returning to open session, but immediately began a dialogue about the contract.

Commissioner Tom Pack began by suggesting the contract have a definite amount of water that is allowed to be withdrawn from Lake Adger. He suggested the amount be the same as the current agreement with Northbrook.

Owens said he would like for the contract to specifically state that the Towns of Columbus and Tryon and the City of Saluda have priority over anyone else.

Gasperson then said the more he studies the contract, the more he is disturbed by it. He said his list of concerns goes on and on.

Gasperson mentioned that the county should look at a document submitted by Sharon Carney and said the indemnification is something he’s been concerned about for a long time. Gasperson said there is no need to rush and just as Tryon Mayor Jim Wright has said, the county should be working with the towns.

Other concerns noted by Gasperson include the contract cutting Polk County out of all revenue.

“This joint coordinating committee,” Gasperson said, “it’s frankly a joke,” adding that the committee has no power.

He also questioned the cost of maintenance on the dam and the lake and what would happen if the county needed a new dam.

“Who pays for that?” Gasperson asked.

“Nobody was looking out for Polk County in this whole negotiation,” said Gasperson. “I’m just appalled by this contract.”

Gasperson also looked at Interim County Manager Marche Pittman and said he knows Pittman tried his best, “but this is clearly out of your expertise.”

Pack quickly rebutted and said Polk County currently has no revenue stream for its water system and uses taxpayer dollars to run water lines and for monies to repair the dam.

Gasperson said in the contract Polk will be giving the potential of revenue away forever.

Gasperson mentioned that the county will still have to potentially pay for the replacement of or repair of the dam and liability costs for floods. Additionally, the county is still paying a contractor, James and James, to maintain the county’s wells and sewer packaging plant.

“We have ongoing costs that are still there,” said Gasperson. “There’s nothing to think it will save taxpayer money.”

Gasperson thanked county attorney Jana Berg for checking with the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC), which has to give its approval before local governments borrow money.

Gasperson said that aspect is still an unknown, as the county still doesn’t know what costs it may incur at the end of a 20-year contract.

“We are potentially shifting a major financial burden to future generations,” Gasperson said. “It makes no sense. I think we need to take care of Polk County first.”

Gasperson said that Polk County should be in the driver’s seat in terms of the contract, saying Polk has the Pacolet River, the Green River and a reservoir (Lake Adger).

“It makes no sense. I’m sorry,” he said.

Owens said Polk does not have the Pacolet River as a water source, saying the Pacolet is “tied up.”

Pack said the $2 million estimated for Turner Shoals Dam repairs has to be paid now or down the road. The less the contract goes, said Pack, the less Polk County will owe on the dam.

“Polk County with 140 customers cannot afford to develop their own water department, equipment,” said Pack. “Our rates would be higher than Tryon’s outside rates. It would be ridiculous.”

Pack also said, as part of the partnership with ICWD, Polk County will be doing long-term planning for water.

Owens asked Gasperson why he is all worked up, questioning if Gasperson was making a political speech since Election Day was the next day.

Owens said Gasperson is talking like other commissioners have completed the contract already.

“We’re still working on it,” said Owens. “We’re having public hearings. I respect each commissioner to talk but tonight you’re getting up in the rafters. You’re slamming us like we’ve already done this thing.”

Gasperson said commissioners are not having citizens show up and say the contract is great. He suggested commissioners listen to what they are being told.

Commissioner Keith Holbert said Gasperson talks about citizens showing up but a couple of years ago at a public hearing on a proposed unified development ordinance (UDO) residents were against it and there was no rush on that either.

“I guess it depends on how you feel on it,” Holbert said to Gasperson.

Pack said the county knows it has dam repairs coming up and they know the bill is going to be about $2 million. He said yes, the county has seven years left on the current ICWD contract but it doesn’t have seven years left to fix the dam.

Pack asked the attorney to go back and work with the interim county manager and ICWD to try to work out some of the discussed details and come back for commissioners to look at the contract again.

“We have no deadline on this,” said Pack. “We delayed it until after the election.”

Pack also said there are conspiracy theories about the contract. He said the county has tons of citizen comments and commissioners are trying to address them.

“We are listening,” said Pack.

Gasperson proposed that commissioners have meetings with the towns and citizens to work on a county-wide water and sewer plan.

Owens said he has already asked Tryon Mayor Wright when commissioners could meet with the town.

Commissioners came to a consensus, except Gasperson, to have attorney Berg work with Pittman and ICWD to continue working on the contract and return with another draft.

Commissioners again heard from a few residents regarding the contract during citizen comments. The comments generally asked commissioners to listen to citizens and work with the towns before approving the contract.

Go to www.tryondailybulletin.com for the county’s draft contract with ICWD, a draft of which was made available on Oct. 27.