Public Utilities Director Dennis Brobst said the county expects to continue the level of cooperation historically enjoyed with other utility-owning municipalities. The difference now is that Pinehurst is added to the list of municipalities operating their water and sewer systems.
The agreement between the village and the county calls for the changeover to take place on March 15.
Brobst acknowledged that the county’s system will be reduced in size by some 80 percent but predicts that the transition will be smooth and that county customers will not suffer negative consequences.
“My goal is to make sure everybody comes out with a job they’re happy with,” Brobst said.
As for himself, Brobst said he was flattered by the interest of Pinehurst in offering him the position of utilities director, but his decision to turn down that offer still stands.
“I have a strong allegiance to this organization, and I would like to see it continue successfully,” he said of his decision to turn down the village offer.
As part of the $9 million sale agreement between the village and the county, the village is to acquire about 80 percent of the county’s assets, including pickup trucks and such specialized equipment as a sewer vacuum truck and the interior television monitoring device used to locate problems in sewer lines.
Brobst said there has been considerable discussion among employees about job offers and possible changes, but the decisions will be made on an individual basis. He says it is county policy to take a hands-off position and allow personnel to make their own decisions.
Although there were times when the situation was difficult during the pre-election campaign period, county employees continued to fulfill their obligations without problems, Brobst said.
“I am so proud of my staff,” Brobst said. “They went through the entire process and weathered the storm. They responded to every emergency as promptly and efficiently as possible. They did not lobby one way or the other.”
He said there were times when that was difficult because of pressure from various forces during the heat of the campaign period.
“At times it was difficult, but the troops did what they had to do,” he said.
Both County Manager Steve Wyatt and Brobst said the transition will be carried out efficiently and with minimum disruption to personnel and both local governments.
Wyatt said he and Pinehurst Village Manager Andy Wilkison have already begun discussing issues related to asset acquisition and division of duties between the village and the county.
“There are details to be worked out, but it should culminate in the springtime by turning over the eye to the village,” Wyatt said.
In the meantime, the village must prepare to undertake operation and maintenance of the system now operated by the county.
Wyatt said the sale will obviously mean that the county must downsize its utilities operation. However, he foresees no change in use of the utilities building on U.S. 15-501 in Carthage.
“Pinehurst is a valuable part of Moore County, and we’re basically in this together,” Wyatt said. We’re going to make the whole thing work.”
When the transition is completed, it is likely that the county’s staff of 51 will be reduced to about 30. Although the Pinehurst system represents about 80 percent of the customer base, the county will continue to need personnel to cover all basic services.
Brobst said there will still be plenty of work for county personnel.
The East Moore Water District is a stand-alone system operated under contract by the county. Brobst said there should be no change in operation of East Moore or the systems serving other communities, including Vass, Seven Lakes, Hyland Hills, Niagara, the Carolina, and Addor. Organization is just getting started on another system, to be called the North West Moore Water District, and it will later be incorporated into the county program, probably in a similar fashion to that of East Moore.
“I think we have a good understanding about the transition,” Brobst said of the employees who will be hired by the village. “I hope it will be as seamless as possible. The only difference for personnel will be the color of their paychecks.”
Brobst says he expects the county to maintain the same relationship with Pinehurst that he has enjoyed with Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Carthage.
When one system has an emergency, other systems are called on to help, and they help each other, he said.
“It’s what utilities do,” Brobst said. “I hope it stays that way.”
Brobst said there has always been a cordial relationship with fellow directors in Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Carthage and he expects this type of relationship with Pinehurst.
The county buys a considerable amount of water from both Southern Pines and Aberdeen and Brobst expects this to continue as well.
Wyatt said the county will probably make arrangements to share some highly specialized equipment that is going to Pinehurst as part of the sale agreement. Examples are the vacuum truck and the underground television monitoring equipment.
Pinehurst voters on Tuesday approved a $16 million bond issue enabling the village to buy the utilities serving the village and to make improvements to the system. The village has offered to pay $9 million for its utilities, and the county board of commissioners approved the offer on a 3-2 vote earlier this year. An $8 million offer was turned down last year, also on a 3-2 vote.
The former Moore Water and Sewer Authority acquired the Pinehurst utilities from private owners about 10 years ago. The latest financial report shows that the county still owes about $4.8 million on that debt. The authority was dissolved by the county commissioners several years ago and the county began operation of its own system as the Moore County Department of Public Utilities.
In addition to the several water systems, the county operates and maintains the wastewater treatment plant serving Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Carthage and outlying areas. This function will continue as usual.
