Editor’s note: the following press release was received by the Bulletin in response to the Inman-Campobello Water District halting water contract negotiations with Polk County.

Protect Polk Water (PPW) is a group of citizens of Polk County whose purpose is to preserve our valuable water resources (including The Turner Shoals Dam and Lake Adger). Our first project was to stop the contract between Polk County and the Inman-Campobello Water District (ICWD) from going through. The contract was unfavorable to Polk County and its citizens because it granted control over the dam and water to ICWD, a South Carolina entity. The proposal has been defeated with the help of many, many people. We are so appreciative of all the residents who joined us in our quest to make sure Polk County interests were truly protected.

 

Protect Polk Water respects the decision of the ICWD (led by Jeff Walker) to end the negotiations on the proposed water contract with Polk County. Thankfully, the ICWD had the foresight to hire experts to consult with them and make recommendations which ultimately led to pointing out the disadvantages of the proposed contract.

 

With donations made from the public to PPW, PPW paid for a report titled, “Water Issued White Paper,” prepared by expert, Keith Webb, a Professional Engineer of McGill Associates, Asheville, North Carolina. The McGill white paper report provides historical background, regional water supply information and recommendations for future management concepts that we need to consider as we go forward. The report raises many questions including the following: The ICWD contract turned over the control of the water resource/system to ICWD and stripped Polk County from directing the future potential of creating jobs and the planned economic growth of Polk county and its valuable water resource. Before taking any steps to turn over control of its water resources, Polk County must decide if its long-term growth and economical goals will be met. Future PPW plans include holding a public forum to present the McGill white paper to the public with the hope that the question raised by McGill will be answered.

 

PPW asks the Polk Board of Commissioners to cease spending county money for more water lines and the creation of more county positions until the concerns raised by the experts have been addressed. We ask that the Polk BOC focus in its responsibility to its citizens and to the State of North Carolina, by completing and submitting the now delinquent report. Polk County is required to submit a detailed plan along with a timetable for the much needed repair of the Turner Shoals dam at Lake Adger. It is expected that this necessary repair project will cost several million. Previous Boards of Commissioners in anticipation of the need to have this repair work done, saved $200,000 per year for the purpose of repairing the dam, however, the current Polk BOC reduced that commitment to $50,000 per year. Currently, the fund has only $700,000. By contrast, if this reserve had been continued at the original rate, approximately $1.1 million would be available for dam repairs. We also emphasize the urgent need to hire experts in the field to advise and to guide the Polk BOC in all of its decisions with respect to the use of Polk County’s valuable water resources.

 

Protect Polk Water
Ira M. Karet