Adoption of a project ordinance completes a final detail in issuance of $9.2 million in bonds to advance a series of improvements in the Pinehurst utilities system.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners approved the ordinance during the Jan. 18 board meeting.

The county closed on the Series 2010 limited obligation bonds on Oct. 7. The bonds are part of a major bond issuance to pay for construction of a detention center-public safety complex in Carthage as well as the Pinehurst utilities.

Whereas the bonds for the complex in Carthage will be paid for by taxpayers through the General Fund bonded indebtedness, the utilities improvements will be covered by ratepayers.

Public Works Director Dennis Brobst explained that the project ordinance is needed because some of the projects are multi-year.

Included are $5.4 for Old Town sewer rehabilitation, $1.2 million for Radio Read Meters, $1.2 million for the Pinehurst Water Tank and $1.2 million for Lake Pinehurst sewer rehabilitation.

The commissioners followed up on that action by approving a contract with Hydrostructures PA for engineering and inspection services for the Old Town sewer replacement and Lake Pinehurst sewer line replacement. The contract is estimated at $373,430, to come from the bonds.

Brobst reported that the contract updates and replaces two expired contracts with Hydrostructures. He said $278,990 remaining in the expired contracts reflects $94,440 in new costs brought about by the increased scope of services and delays.

The projects were halted earlier because the village of Pinehurst wanted both water and sewer projects to be carried out at the same time, he said. Brobst cited a letter from the village to the N.C. Department of Transportation asking that it not approve the county projects until village approval was in hand.

The project includes design modifications, permitting, bid coordination, public outreach and notification and construction inspection and administration for the combined Old Town and Lake Pinehurst sewer rehabilitation project.

The commissioners also approved an agreement with Ritchie Construction Company to install a 12-inch water main on Graham Road from Rassie Wicker Street to McLean Street in Pinehurst.

Ritchie submitted the lowest bid among 10 bidders for the project. The project is not to exceed $142,015. This is not a bond project, and funds are provided in the utilities enterprise fund budget.

A contract with Charles R. Underwood Inc. was amended to add $25,000 to the budgeted amount, but it passed over the objections of one commissioner.

Commissioner Tim Lea complained that amendments should not be required under the existing contract. He cast the lone dissenting vote when the motion by Commissioner Larry Caddell was made to amend the contract from $85,000 to $110,000.

“Unfortunately, we had several large emergencies this year,” Brobst explained.

The contract covers repairs and maintenance for certain utilities in the county system. The unexpected expenses incurred in the current budget year included emergency work at the Pinehurst lift station 3-4 and Seven Lakes Wells 11A and 12. A similar adjustment was made with the contractor in the previous year.