TWSA resists request for sewer hookup

By Rose Hooper

That was the message Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority board members gave Dr. Nagui El Bayadi Tuesday night when he requested water and sewer hookups for a proposed development.

El Bayadi and businessman Ray Nations plan to develop 7.6 acres of property past Colonial Square on U.S. Business 23, just inside the Dillsboro town limits. Although there are water lines on the property, no sewer lines extend to the property.

After looking over the property earlier, TWSA Executive Director Jerry King suggested three options to El Bayadi.

"You would just need 300 feet of hookup if you go under the road and down the embankment, but the biggest obstacle would be the Department of Transportation," King said. "They may not let you disturb that fill bank.

"Another option would be to join the forced main on the south side of Scotts Creek, and that would be 650 to 700 feet," King continued. "Or you could connect to the gravity line on Hemlock, and that would be 800 to 900 feet and require a pump station."

El Bayadi told the board he had received a quote of $170,000 for sewer hookups. To connect the lines between Sylva and Dillsboro, El Bayadi said he would be willing to grant a right of way.

County Commission Chair Jay Denton appeared on El Bayadi's behalf, urging the two TWSA county appointees - Mickey Luker and Keith Ward - to offer any assistance they could.

TWSA Chair J.C. Alexander said his board's policy clearly states that anybody developing property who wants water and/or sewer hookups must come to them.

"We can provide trunk lines, but we don't go up into people's property," Alexander said. "They have to bring the extensions and hookups to us."

Dillsboro Vice Mayor Reg Moody Sr. told the TWSA board that El Bayadi had first submitted his request for assistance to the Dillsboro town board.

"Our capital improvement committee recognizes its fiduciary responsibility to assist any property owner within the town limits of Dillsboro in their efforts to obtain water and sewer service to their property," Moody said. "Since Dillsboro does not have a water and sewer authority and since we don't provide those services as a town, any contribution we make has to be considered on an individual basis. Dillsboro doesn't have a lot of money, so our reimbursements aren't going to be that great."

Dillsboro's policy reads as follows: "In no case shall such contribution exceed the total taxes for more than seven years after the first date of the improvements appearing on the tax scroll of Jackson County."

Dillsboro's TWSA representative Jim Cochran added, "I have read the TWSA policy and, as I understand it, we don't have any responsibility or funds to help private property owners. Now that doesn't mean, somewhere down the line, that we can't change that policy."

El Bayadi, who has owned the property and paid both county and Dillsboro town taxes on it since 1981, stressed that his development would "increase the value of the property four or five times."

That might benefit Dillsboro, TWSA member Joe Carter said, but "TWSA does not have any tax authority."

"TWSA may not levy taxes, but the county does," Denton replied. "The county has jumped in there big time in helping TWSA with projects. Just look at the Scotts Creek project and the new sewer treatment plant for the Whittier area. Dr. El Bayadi's development would help development in the county. All he is asking you for is a little assistance."

"I'll tell you what we can do," King said to El Bayadi. "First, you need to get a civil engineer to do a study and design and determine costs for your project. Then we will sit down and help you and guide you in the best direction."

"That's what we were looking for," said Denton.

El Bayadi, stressing that he was not an expert in the field, said he would greatly appreciate the guidance. "I want to do this project, but I don't want to get ripped off."

El Bayadi presented three designs by architect Odell Thompson for the potential development of the property, using a combination of commercial and residential space.

"Commercial spaces would be closer to the road, U.S. Business 23, while the residential spots would be in the back of the property, adjoining the existing tree line," he said. Each of the designs include green space to connect to the proposed Greenway Project.

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