Residents of Bethel who were successful in derailing a proposal to run water and sewer lines to their community four years ago are organizing opposition to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners new attempt to do the same.

The proposed $4.5 million project would extend 12-inch water and sewer lines from the town of Canton for about 5.5 miles along N.C. 215 to U.S. 276 into the heart of Bethel. Haywood County commissioners drafted a similar plan four years ago but backed off after public outcry from the community over the potential for development that often follows water and sewer development.

“We really feel it would ruin the uniqueness of the community,” said Steve Sorrells, a Bethel farmer and community leader. “It would be like getting in a car and starting a car without a steering wheel on it.”

Bill Holbrook, also a farmer in Bethel, said he is disappointed but not surprised by the proposal.

“The people of this community want to stay rural,” Holbrook said.

The Haywood County commissioners discussed the water and sewer lines during an all-day county retreat last Friday. Commissioners discussed everything from county employee salaries to renovating the historic courthouse to initiatives for Haywood Community College. The engineering firm McGill and Associates of Asheville gave a 45-minute presentation on the Bethel plan that spilled over into a discussion over lunch.

Commissioners cited a new elementary school being constructed on N.C. 215 as the primary reason for wanting to run water and sewer lines to Bethel. But growth and development was a close second.

“That’s a lot of land out there,” Commissioner Kevin Ensley said. When presented with a choice between smaller, less expensive lines that would service only the new school, the commissioners said they preferred the larger lines in order to accommodate growth.

“That would allow everybody to tap in,” said Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley asked whether water and sewer lines could be run up N.C. 110 instead of N.C. 215, citing more room for growth along N.C. 110. County Manager Jack Horton said he would like to see water and sewer service along N.C. 110 as well.

“If the lines were one 110, it would serve a lot more people,” Horton said.

Joel Storrow of McGill and Associates said the topography on the N.C. 215 side of the Pigeon River was more suitable. He said extensions could be run to N.C. 110.

“That’s good because it will allow development on the other side of the river to tie in,” Ensley said.

Testing the waters

The Haywood County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing in Bethel at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, at the Bethel School to hear views from community members on the issue. The commissioners said that while word would surely get out in the press that the issue had been discussed at their annual planning retreat, they needed to schedule a public hearing as soon as possible to dispel any rumors.

Storrow told commissioners last week he would have to start on plans for the project immediately to meet the March 31 application deadline for a state grant. The commissioners said the soonest they could take a vote was at their formal meeting Monday, as the retreat was a work session only.

But County Manager Jack Horton said the agenda for Monday’s meeting was finalized, and according to the commissioners’ rules, they are not supposed to vote on any controversial matter that does not appear on the agenda ahead of time.

“I’d vote to suspend the rules for that,” Ensley suggested.

Commissioner Mark Swanger said that was not a good idea, however, as it would give the appearance that the commissioners already had their mind made up prior to holding a public hearing. The commissioners scheduled the public hearing for March 16, the soonest the board could hold it to fulfill the required two-weeks public notice from the time the hearing was set.

Commissioner Bill Noland said that the board seemed to be giving McGill the go ahead to start working on the grant application.

“I think there’s a consensus,” Ensley agreed.

What about us?

Bethel residents said they are upset that the water and sewer issue has resurfaced.

“It boils down to whether you’re going to listen to the community. It sounds like they are going to push it down our throat whether we like it or not,” said Holbrook.

“It’s plain that there are some people that because of profit motive want to see development come to Bethel, regardless of what the people here want,” Sorrells said. “Why are they pushing it on us when there are other places in the county that need it far worse and want it?”

Sorrells said that the majority of those pushing for water and sewer lines four years ago did not live in the community.

“No great push has come from within the Bethel community for sewer and water service,” agreed Dave Curphey, a Bethel resident.

The Haywood County commissioners said water and sewer lines would benefit the new elementary school slated for construction in Bethel along N.C. 215. It would take about two years to acquire the right of way and build the lines, which would coincide well with the projected opening date of the new school, County Manager Jack Horton said.

But opponents in Bethel said the school is being used to “blackmail” the community into accepting the lines.

“Their rationale for ramming sewer and water through the valley is trumped up,” Curphey said, calling it ludicrous to use the new school to justify $4.5 million water and sewer lines.

According to McGill’s engineering estimates, a well and septic system at the school would cost less than $500,000.

The commissioners, however, were skeptical, citing poor soils in the Pigeon River valley and close proximity to the river as hurdles in constructing a cost-efficient septic system for the 480-student school. Commissioners also said they had heard of occasional water quality concerns involving odor and color at the existing Bethel Elementary and Middle school campus. The schools also have been wrought with septic problems, including pump failures and sewage leaks that led to fines.

Storrow said he did not do a full analysis of the on-site well and septic system, and that some of those concerns might be valid.

“We didn’t look at that alternative in as much detail as the central sewer system because we knew that (sewer lines) was probably the preference of the board,” Storrow said.

But Storrow’s preliminary guess is that an on-site septic system would be at about $350,000 and a well about $120,000. The new school site has the acreage needed for a drain field and soils are also better than at the current school campus, Storrow said.

Swanger said that the land for the septic drain field would be lost acreage, however, as the land could not be used even for ballfields. He also said an on-site system at the new Bethel elementary school would not address ongoing well and septic problems at the existing two-school campus, which will be converted entirely to a middle school when the new elementary school opens.

Johnny Woody, a school board member from Bethel, said the school board was not counting on water and sewer lines to come through for the new school.

“The board has directed the architects to look into a sand filtration (septic) system,” Woody said. But now that the county is considering water and sewer, the school board will likely discuss it at their school board meeting Monday, March 8.

“As a personal view point, I’ve always believed there is a need for water and sewer in Bethel,” Woody said. “It would benefit the communtiy from a saftey and health standpoint, and quality of life.” Woody cited the need to eliminate pollution in the Pigeon River from failing septic tanks and straight piping that allegedly still occurrs.

Commissioners discussed the possibility of taking out a loan to fund the project if grants could not be obtained and asked the county finance director to draft cost estimates for the $4.5 million project if a 20-year loan was needed. Storrow said some of the project cost could be funded through an extremely low-interest revolving loan fund available to counties and towns for water and sewer projects.