The Polk County Board of Commissioners held a brief discussion following 29 residents speaking against a proposed water contract between the county and the Inman-Campobello Water District (ICWD) last week.

Commissioners held a public hearing last Monday and plan to discuss those comments and other possible changes to the contract during a meeting on Monday, July 20. The July 20 meeting will begin as a regular county meeting at 6 p.m. followed by a water contract work session.

Following public comments commissioner chair Tom Pack asked for commissioner comments on the revised agreement.

Commissioner Michael Gage asked who is responsible for the dredging of Lake Adger.

County attorney Jana Berg said part of the agreement is ICWD is going to be responsible for lake maintenance as well as maintenance to the Turner Shoals Dam.

Pack said it is his understanding the channel by the landing is the responsibility of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission as far as the other parts of the lake no one is responsible.

Gage also asked if access can be made into the lake from the marina currently. Pack answered that it is his understanding they can get out.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson, who appears to be the only commissioner against the contract, said he has a lot of concerns and what the 29 speakers against the contract said mirrors his concerns.

Gasperson said there should never be a 75-year water contract where Polk County gives up primary control of its water sources and potential revenues to a South Carolina entity or to any outside entity.

He also said care for the Lake Adger Dam and the lake itself should always be considered together, not separately and should include maintenance of the dam and sediment removal to ensure that the lake can serve as a reservoir for potable water.

“In the current proposed contract, ICWD would take on certain financial responsibilities for the dam but no responsibility for the lake,” said Gasperson.

Gasperson also asked why the majority of the board of commissioners is pushing to enact “this fundamentally flawed contract at this time.” He said Polk still has approximately seven years remaining on its current contract with ICWD to run the county’s water system.

“Between now and the end of this current agreement, Polk should be able to hire the best and the brightest of independent public water advisors to help plan the future of our most valuable natural resource,” he said.

That would give the county time, Gasperson said, to evaluate the county’s and towns’ current distribution systems as well as the values of the systems; to estimate future water needs so the county can prepare for residential and commercial water growth patterns; and to make rational recommendations for system expansions and improvements for which a capital improvement plan can be developed.

Gasperson also said during a meeting with the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) in Raleigh, which said it would not approve of the initial agreement because of the potential burden on taxpayers that the LGC referred to Lake Adger as the county’s “crown jewel.” Gasperson said that jewel will do nothing but grow in value as time goes on.

Pack then asked county manager Marche Pittman how many gallons of water go into Lake Adger from the Green River. Pittman answered 166 million gallons per day (MGD).

Pack also asked if there is anywhere in the proposed contract that keeps Polk County from withdrawing water for the county itself.

“So if we wanted to set up our own system and build our own water system there’s nothing to stop us from doing that?” Pack asked.

Berg answered no.

Gasperson said in the contract there’s talk of eminent domain.

Berg said North Carolina law on eminent domain changed not too long ago. She said the entity proposing eminent domain has to show there’s no other viable alternative and it is in fact necessary to cut through someone’s property. Berg said if eminent domain is necessary, the property owner would be paid fair market value and when using eminent domain, it’s generally along roadways or ditch lines close to the roads.

Gasperson said another problem he has is ICWD would own the water lines within the county. Berg said as she understands it, whenever ICWD is constructing a main water line expansion those water lines are owned by Polk County, not ICWD.

Commissioner Keith Holbert said there’s been a lot of talk about Polk setting up its own water treatment plant. He put Pittman on the spot asking how much that would cost the taxpayers.

Pittman said it would depend on how large the plant was, meaning how many gallons per day of water the county could treat.

“It would be a lot of money,” Pittman said.

Pittman also answered Holbert that one penny of taxpayer money in Polk County generates approximately $270,000 in tax revenue.

Pack then turned his attention to a statement made by resident Dave Maxwell regarding ICWD selling Polk’s water back to us.

Pittman said Polk County actually purchases the water from Broad River and sells it to ICWD.

“So they are not selling our water,” Pack said, “we’re selling (water) to them.”

Gage said with all the changes commissioners made during its last meeting (in May), he thinks the county is heading in the right direction.

“I’m encouraged by the citizen comments tonight,” Gage said. “I think we have lots to think about.”

Gage also said the sedimentation in Lake Adger is a big problem and the county is trying to figure out how to solve that issue.