By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Four years after the town backed off merging its water and sewer systems with the city of Salisbury, town officials are ready to take another look.
Aldermen agreed Saturday during their annual planning retreat to look at all potential options on how to move forward with the town’s water and sewer utilities.
The board agreed to have Town Manager Bill Pless and Ron Niland, president of municipal consulting firm All American Associates, look at possibilities including seeking a merger or trying to continue operations for another seven years until the town’s contract with Salisbury-Rowan Utilities expires.
Water use is declining in China Grove but the town’s contract with Salisbury requires payment for 300,000 gallons daily ó regardless of whether the town uses that amount or not.
“We want to explore all options,” Mayor Don Bringle said.
Town officials continue assessing the impact of the closing of Hanesbrands, one of the town’s major water users.
Bringle said it’s clear the town will have to dip into its general fund ó derived from property taxes and sales taxes ó to pay for water and sewer operations.
Aldermen set no timetable for making a decision on the possible options.
Town officials aren’t sure if the city of Salisbury is interested in taking over the China Grove water and sewer system.
After almost a year of negotiations, town officials backed away from a merger in early 2005 because of several factors, including the fact that China Grove customers would have had to pay a higher rate than other Salisbury-Rowan Utilities customers. Salisbury also wanted land and cash to purchase equipment for a utility station in China Grove.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.