County commissioners today agreed to allow the Meadows Sewer District in Hollister apply for a $40,000 grant which will study ways to bring sewerage to the area.
The district had to go through the commissioners to apply for the funds, which if successful, would come from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center.
The county would not have to provide matching funds, said Archie Lynch, of the district.
Lynch said the grant, if approved, would help the district identify the type of sewer system it would need. Sewer lines will not work because the price would be too high for the users, he said.
One alternative the district is exploring is spray field application, Lynch said. There are several tree farms in the area which would benefit from this application and a system would help promote economic development in the Hollister area. “We’ve had conversations with Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly to bring a grocery store to Hollister. The drawback is we don’t have sewer,” he said.
In other matters today the commissioners:
• Approved a rezoning request by Robert A. Francis to change his land from residential agriculture to highway business. The land is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Ringwood Road. No one spoke at a public hearing on the matter.
• Were told by Economic Development Director Cathy Scott the development commission is seeking $3.8 million in grant funds to bring sewer to the county corporate park.
• Were told by County Manager Tony Brown Halifax EMS received a $100 donation from a family to show their appreciation for the way they transported and cared for former County Manager Neal Phillips as his health declined.
• Listened to Brown read a letter from Cross Cut subdivision resident Hank DeWald for the quick response of EMS to the area when his fiancee’s son nearly drowned in August. The boy has fully recovered and has no brain damage despite being under water for 10 to 15 minutes after being caught on a buoy line.
“Please don’t let (anyone) tell you we don’t have good emergency medical services available in Halifax County,” the letter said. “We have the best and they proved themselves that day, as they do whenever they are called upon.”
