PITTSBORO — Town commissioners met Monday to discuss a request from Chatham Park Investors regarding an approval for 300,000-gallon elevated storage tank and a 12” water transmission main along Suttles Road.
Pittsboro Engineering Director Kent Jackson presented the project to the board, giving background information on the process for the approval of the tank, as well as the need for an additional pipeline to connect the tank to town water.
“The projects were built in two separate contracts,” Jackson said, “Those contracts started in Spring of 2017 and were subsequently completed in August 2018.”
After construction was completed, Chatham Park had experts verify the tank and main line followed the right codes and regulations. This included a series of equipment tests, reviewing paperwork, correcting inconsistencies when necessary and more.
“Right now, we do not have the demand for the Chatham Park tank to be an active part of our system,” Jackson said, “so that is why some of these improvements are delayed and are not referenced in the memo.”
Jackson said based on his review of the paperwork related to the water tank and main line projects, it’s time for the town to move on and accept the infrastructure and begin working with contractors to make the future improvements.
Some commissioners were hesitant, at first, to vote to accept the infrastructure without the necessary improvements. But Jackson said Chatham Park Investors and developers McKim and Creed will be required to commit to completing and paying for the projects’ completion.
“This is an acceptance with post-acceptance commitments,” he said, “so McKim and Creed has agreed to bring in the vendor and contractor to provide and install the altitude valve in the tank. They [Chatham Park Investors] will consider any repairs that may be needed that may be outside a contractor concern.”
Mayor Cindy Perry voiced some concern for the agreement, and asked Town Manager Chris Kennedy if there was a way for town staff to solidify and further validate the post-acceptance agreement from Chatham Park.
Kennedy said staff can work with Chatham Park Investors to ensure both the town and Chatham Park are satisfied with the outcome of the water storage tank.
“We can work with Chatham Park representatives to provide the necessary comfort,” he said, “(We want to go from) discomfort to comfort when it comes to the language that would make it more clear what the expectations are moving forward.”
Kennedy said there have been many conversations about these projects since he came to Pittsboro in 2020. He said he wants to make sure everything is understood before voting to approve the acceptance of infrastructure.
“We and Chatham Park are both eager to move forward with some understanding in how this moves forward,” Kennedy said. “If there is anything here that leaves the board concerned, staff will share that concern and will be happy to review that language and provide something that is more amenable.”
Reporter Taylor Heeden can be reached at theeden@chathamnr.com.