City’s capital improvement plan construction could start in January

SALUDA — The city of Saluda is still in a holding pattern to begin water and sewer repairs for its capital improvement plan.

The city was awarded a United States Department of Agriculture loan in the amount of $1.9 million last year and has already raised rates to pay back the loan, but still has not started construction.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Monday and heard from City Manager Jonathan Cannon regarding the loan, and what is left prior to construction beginning.

Cannon said he was recently notified by the USDA that the city can now bid out the project.

“Our engineer has indicated we will release it for bid on Wednesday [Sept. 12],” Cannon said.

Cannon said the bids can be opened on Oct. 12. He said after the bid opening, the city will know construction amounts and can then take those to the North Carolina Local Government Commission for approval.

He said the LCG needs the city’s audit report for its approval, which cannot happen until November. Audit reports are due at the end of October by local governments, for the year ending June 30. The earliest Saluda could be presented its audit report for fiscal year 2017-2018 is during the city’s November meeting.

“Then we can release the contract for construction,” Cannon said. “So, if everything goes well, we can see construction in January.”

Saluda has 16 projects outlined in its CIP to accomplish with the loan. Saluda approved rate increases to pay back the loan that went into effect in 2016, with other increases beginning last year and another increase, which was effective in January this year, for water and sewer rates.

Some of the projects on the CIP include replacing the Laurel Drive lift station and water and sewer line replacements along Florida Avenue and Shand Street. Other planned projects include refurbishing the city’s water tank, updating  its primary booster station, replacing water and sewer lines on Columbia Avenue and Hart Street, and several other projects.