Polk County agreed last week to spend up to $330,000 for a pump station in order to supply future water lines in the Sunny View area.

County commissioners met Nov. 16 and approved by a 4-1 vote a $309,000 bid from Steppe Construction for the pump station, a budget amendment to fund the pump station in the amount of $330,000 from the general fund balance and to increase the Sunny View water line project budget ordinance by $330,000.

County engineer Dave Odom presented the bid to commissioners last week and said a good location for a pump station has been located.

Commissioner Keith Holbert asked how far the station would be able to pump water.

Odom answered that with the pump station the county would be able to feed water to all areas of north central Polk County that are populated including all the way to the county line.

Commissioner chair Tom Pack asked if the county wanted to extend all the way to Rutherford County could it pressurize without a tank. Odom answered yes.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson voted against all decisions regarding the pump station saying he hasn’t heard any real demand in that area. Gasperson said it would be a nice project to do, but the county has spent over $3 million in the last few years extending water lines and although the county has picked up taps, there’s only been approximately 10 customers who use water. Gasperson was referring to the county’s last two projects, where main water lines were extended from Peniel Road in Green Creek to the Hwy. 108/Hwy. 9 crossroads in Mill Spring then the latest extension from the crossroads to Sunny View School.

Gasperson said considering the county is heading into having to make repairs to the Lake Adger dam, he thinks that needs to be the county’s top priority and should hold off on a pump station, saying the pump station at this time doesn’t make a lot of fiscal sense to him.

County manager Marche Pittman said over those two projects mentioned, the county has obtained 40 taps and 10 water customers.

Commissioner Michael Gage said when he was on Columbus Town Council they worked with Saluda and Tryon on the water interconnect and the state is encouraging regional cooperation.

“I think that’s what we’re continuing to do,” Gage said.

The idea of pump station was first brought to commissioners when in August Odom presented the final change order for the Sunny View water line extension, which included getting public water to the Sunny View Fire and Rescue Department and Sunny View School. Odom told commissioners in August that now would be a good time to discuss another phase for future projects in the Sunny View area. Odom said the county cannot extend the water line much further because the county would see water pressure decline. He said at the time there have been requests for water line extensions on Coopers Gap and McGuinn roads and in order to extend the water service any further, a booster pump station is necessary.

Polk County has spent $1,628,155 on the Sunny View water line extension, not including the latest $330,000 allotment for a pump station.