By Gary Lee Stuber
While technically not part of the regular Clay County Commission meeting, the 15 minutes before said meeting last week were reserved for a public report from Terry Martin as part of a necessary reading so the Commission could formally accept the request for the Grassy Fork water extension grant funding request. With more than 40 people in attendance, a few were there from Grassy Fork, but most were on other roads close to, but not otherwise impacted by the water line.
The atmosphere was a little warm as Martin did his best to present the public portion of his announcement. He assured all present that this was not a fast process.
“We have entered into the design phase, and have hired Chapman Technical. That process usually takes six to seven months. After that we have to get signatures for easements and right-of-ways before we can get a contractor involved in the real work. And the money for this won’t be here for a year.”
After, even though it encroached another 18 minutes on the regular Commission meeting, he graciously opened the floor for questions. Many in attendance voiced concern that they had been involved in water projects for years that never came to fruition. They came with records and petitions and armed with something heavier: history. Questions ranged from, why was our location passed up, to, how do we get water for us now? Many came to air grievances and some wondered if corruption was involved.
Terry explained how the process involves the Public Service District (PSD), not just the Commission. “This is not the place to begin. Before you come to the County Commission you need to go to the PSD located right across the street. That’s where you make application, bring friends and neighbors with you and take your petitions with you.” There is an upcoming PSD meeting on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Regarding history, Terry said, “You can’t go back and look at the past. You can only go forward. The PSD has a bunch of new commissioners there, who will look at everything with fresh eyes and can work forward from there. But, there is not funding every year for these types of projects. It depends upon what grant money is available from the federal government, who applies and especially the cost.”
Commissioner Kinder added to Terry’s thought, saying that sometimes the amount of money may be small, like $1.5 million instead of the current $2.7 million for the proposed project. She said she has been involved with her community to get water and after all these years, there is no water at her home. So the number of houses and direction the engineer takes is often to match the funds available. “The Big Otter Nebo water project started in 2019,” Terry said, “And we are not even at construction yet. This is a long process.”
Of the dozen people who spoke during the question and answer period, none were more emotional than Brenda and George Parcell. George asked, “Why were we ignored? We were involved in the beginning of the water project 20 years ago.” Terry answered, “No one in this room can answer that question because none of us were involved back then.” He tried to explain that there were physical boundaries as well. “The town of Clay is responsible for their own water systems, the Clay County Commission is responsible for everything in the rest of rural Clay County, except where other entities are involved, such as Clay-Roane, or the Clay PSD and fringe areas that border other counties. And they can only apply for one system, serving one area, once a year.” And as he explained before, all this depends upon funds available.
“Twenty years ago I was told to get some water samples.” Brenda Parcell related, “I was never told that I had to go and apply at the PSD. The commission told me to get some more people involved. We did.” George added that there were as many as 60 people up their hollow that would make better business sense than the few people being proposed on the new line. He added an apology to the Grassy Fork residents in attendance that he wasn’t trying to deny them service, he was just being practical.
Terry offered one piece of sound advice. “Go to the PSD and apply. And then, frequently ask, ‘Where are we on water?’ Because if you let too much time lapse, year to year, commissioners might change, or status. They may wonder, ‘Do those people even live there anymore? ‘So go frequently, but not every month trying to drive them crazy. But yes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” He promised to record every note and comment that could help them in the future.
The Thursday Public Service District meeting had fewer members of the public in attendance, only five, with PSD Boardmembers Ted Underwood and Frank Lane present in-person and Boardmemebr Pastor Gary Drake of Clay First Baptist Church attending by phone remotely. General Manager Beverly Pierson, Field Manager Joe Young, reception and clerical worker Tami Huges, and Engineer Greg Belcher were also all in attendance.
After a prayer and call to order the board quickly took care of routine business, approving last month’s minutes, a financial report, and a field report. Then, because she had requested to be on the agenda the day before, Brenda Parcell spoke to the board. She represented residents of Upper Sycamore Creek Road at Lizemores. The two others present represented the Grassy Fork project, which is now in the grant proposal phase.
“I came here on behalf of myself and neighbors to petition for city water,” Brenda began. “We have signatures of 45-50 people within a three to four mile distance up the road. We do need the water, we have needed it since. . .” She paused to look back at her husband. “We lived down close to Route 16 and we have been fighting for water for 40 years now.”
Beverly Pierson add to her record, “She brought in a petition yesterday, and of course we did look at the fact that no one came in to sign up for water in the past.” Then directing her conversation to Brenda, added, “It was suggested to me by Terry Martin that if we can get residents to come in and sign a user agreement application here at the office, especially so we have a record of how many want to have water.”
Brenda pointed to the petition of 45-50 names, telling them that number was just for four miles. They could easily get as many as 60. Brenda responded, “At that point they wouldn’t have to make a deposit, as that would come later as funding is achieved. But they would be committing to 36 months (three years) after the hookup deposit was made, and after service began.” She showed Brenda the form, and told her the present hookup could range from $150 to $300 as sometimes some of the hookup is picked up in the grant. But they were asking them to come in and sign up as the signature has to be notarized. Especially as they would be committing to 36 months whether they use it or not.
Brenda asked about elderly people who could not come in.
“Can we take the application to them?”
“That is possible” Beverly answered, “As long as you have it notarized. Take a notary with you.”
Gary Drake added that perhaps they could make a plea to our Clay County State Representative Roger Hanshaw to support their cause. The Board agreed that that would not be a bad idea, and since the Governor had to sign off on city block grants, like that at Grassy Creek, it would be wise to solicit his help as well.
Engineer Greg Belcher said that two of the three projects they are working on are either ready to be in construction, or in the grant request phase, and “now would be a great time to put in another project right behind it.” Brenda made it clear that there could be as many as 60 families willing to sign up and wondered if it could be appended to Grassy Creek because they were so close.
“It wouldn’t be a good idea, as it would delay the Grassy Creek project at least another year,” Greg added, “It could be added right in line, behind Grassy Creek if they could get enough commitments for water.” Brenda said she would try to get everyone on her list in to sign applications. And Beverly reiterated, “There would be no money at that time, just a signature making them aware if we did tap them into the water system they were committing to 36 months at the current rate, which is $53.57 for 3,000 gallons.”
The Engineer Greg Belcher gave a status on the existing projects. He also brought up that he had been approached by CMI2 (Civil Military Innovation Institute) who bought the Ben Murphy building and the orchard beyond to erect their Adaptive Experimentation Facility.
“They were wanting to tap into city water and expected to use 20,000 gallons a day. That would put a hurt on anything going south. And they asked about sewage. Presently there are no sewage treatment plants at Lizemores. They had their own engineer working on the project, and the possibility they might have to be responsible for their own water. They may have to build storage tanks, and their own infrastructure. I told them they can’t operate the system themselves. They could if they put in a master meter. Then they will have to operate and maintain the system, and I don’t think they can do that very easily. They might be able to do the infrastructure and then come back to the PSD and ask us to operate and maintain the system once they build it.” His last meeting with them was March 7. More research would be required from both CMI and the PSD.
