The feasibility study that will be presented is considered a crucial part of whether the town opts to sell its water system to the county.

The specially called meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the town hall on Washington Avenue.

The county has put on the table an $800,000 offer to buy the town of Weldon's water treatment facilities.

According to a September 18 letter from County Manager Tony Brown to Weldon Mayor Julia Meacham, “Halifax County is interested in acquiring the raw water intake, transmission and treatment facilities now owned and operated by the Town of Weldon.”

Brown noted in the letter the county board of commissioners authorized the proposal and included in the purchase price the following:

• The raw water pump station located in Roanoke Rapids.

• The raw water transmission line that runs from the pump station to the treatment plant in Weldon, including the assignment of all easement agreements associated with the raw water transmission line.

• The water treatment plant located in Weldon, including vacant land.

• The transfer or assignment of all permits associated with raw water intake, transmission and treatment.

• The transfer and assignment of all rights and obligations under a water service agreement with Westmoreland-Hadson Partners, from the initial agreement struck in January of 1991 and amendments made on October of 1991 and December of 1993.

The town asked the county for a proposal and the letter served as a follow-up to that request.

Selling the water plant has been an issue up for discussion since the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

Since that time, the town has had to weigh building a new water plant over raising water rates to be eligible for possible grant funding.

In initial consideration, cost of a new water treatment plant was $3 million. In 2008, the cost to build a new plant went up to $8.7 million and now it sits at $15 million.