County-wide water/sewer a future possibility Future of Murphy and county discussed
By Dwight Otwell Editor

Water/sewer expansion and availability is a key to the future flourishing of Cherokee County.

That statement was made Thursday by county and Murphy officials at the monthly meeting of the Appalachian Home Builders Association.

Murphy Town Alderman David Hilton said that in the future, with population growth and the water table dropping and environmental regulations getting stricter, it will be necessary to have a county-wide water and sewer system.

"In the future, water and sewer are going to be important in rural areas," said Cherokee County Manager David Badger. "It is going to go out into the Hanging Dog, Hiwassee Dam and Topton communities."

Badger said water and sewer availability will be a key not only for residential development but for commercial and industrial expansion also. Commercial and industrial entities must have property adjacent to water and sewer, he said.

Hilton explained that the Town of Murphy began 15 to 20 years ago expanding utilities beyond the town city limits. The town has been able to secure grants in which the city paid only 20 to 30 percent of the cost of expansion of water and sewer out into the county.

"The Town of Murphy utility system is 65 percent outside town," he said.

The water interconnect is at Marble and connects the Andrews and Murphy systems and allows either city to share water with the other.

"One of our prime objectives is to have sewer (lines) to connect with Andrews too," Hilton said.

Murphy's water and sewer lines go west to Hwy. 60. There is water all the way to the golf course and on this side of the river, it goes almost to the Clay County line.

The Murphy water plant is licensed for two million gallons of water a day and the town is at about 50 percent capacity. The sewer license is for 1.4 million gallons a day and the town is at about 50 percent capacity there too. Hilton noted that once the town's usage gets to 70 percent, it must have plans to expand. When it gets to 85 percent usage, construction for expansion must be under way.

"Water and sewer will be at the forefront (of future development)," Badger said.

The county has received a half million dollar grant to help in the Hwy. 74 corridor for sewer expansion, Badger said. Sewer structure is much more expensive than water, mainly because of lift stations, Hilton said.

Badger said the county has begun to develop a six-year capital improvement program. The plan will include the needs of the school system and Tri-County Community College.

"We will have to look at how the school system is structured. Is it better if we have only two high schools, an east and a west high school?" he questioned.

This would cut down on the number of campuses and save money.

Affordable housing is an issue for the future of the county, he said. In a tourism based economy, workers aren't highly paid and they can't afford much of the housing now offered in the county.

"It is a key to future economic development of our area," Badger said.

Another issue is senior housing as the county continues to age.

Jeff Howard said the biggest problem with affordable housing is finding affordable land.

"We've discussed purchasing land for affordable housing but there are no plans (to actually do it)," Badger said. "In the next 10 years, I think we may see more apartment complexes like they have in Raleigh," Badger said.

Badger also pointed out that with a growing population, there is increased demand for law enforcement, EMS and other emergency services.

"The issues for the future are how are we going to provide this," Badger said. "The county may have to go to a county-wide fire department (eventually)."

Hilton briefly talked about the debate about a possible referendum in Murphy for liquor by the drink. Mixed drinks, beer sales in restaurants and package sales all require a referendum, he said.

"The Town of Murphy has no right to approve liquor by the drink. I don't know whether it will be on the ballot. It is up to the (Murphy) council (to set up a referendum)," Hilton said.

A referendum could also be set up if a third of registered voters in Murphy sign a petition calling for a referendum, he said.