TWSA tells town 'no'

By Rose Hooper

That's what members of the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority board of directors agreed to tell Sylva Manager Richard McHargue and Mayor Brenda Oliver, who requested TWSA provide half the cost, or $278,000, of extending sewer services to Moody Bottom.

Town officials indicated at TWSA's Feb. 18 meeting that without the authority's assistance, the town would have to borrow money to compete the project.

"To give Sylva money, we would have to borrow money ourselves," said TWSA Chairman Mickey Luker.

"According to our charter, we have a five-year payback requirement," said TWSA's new director, Hugh Montgomery, only eight days on the job. If investment costs cannot be recouped in five years, TWSA does not consider the project economically feasible, he said.

"I don't see any return on the investment," said Luker, noting only one of the potential 70 customers had agreed to hook on to the new sewer line. "How can we do a project of this magnitude for one person?" asked TWSA board member Keith Ward.

"I've said before I would like to see this project get done, but I don't see how we can afford it," said fellow board member Bobby Beck.

New board member Lynda Sossamon, a Sylva appointment, said, "the town has come before TWSA since the beginning on this project. The town has been asking for help since 1992."

She then joined the others in voting unanimously to tell the town "no" at this time.

Montgomery followed up by saying TWSA needs to complete its capital improvement plan for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, before making any new financial commitments.

After reviewing TWSA's minutes, board attorney Raymond Large said former town attorney Phil Haire had appeared before the authority on three occasions in 1992 and once in 1993 requesting financial assistance, but TWSA had never acted on any of those requests.

"I'm taken aback by them saying 'we are ready to bid the project; now do you have money?'" Luker said, voicing his objection to the timing of the town's request at this time.

Seven years ago when the town annexed the Moody Bottom property, leaders agreed to extend services to the area, including sewer service. While the town had provided water and sewer services to its residents in the past, municipalities and the county turned over the management and delivery of those services to the newly-established authority in 1992.

The transfer agreement conveying water and sewer systems from the towns and county to TWSA did not include a provision calling for the authority to fund new construction not included in its capital improvement plan, Large pointed out during the authority's February meeting.

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