Lincoln County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lincoln County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Bethel Booster Pump Station Relocation
The water infrastructure project is out to bid, with bids opening September 10.
Southeast water capacity transmission main
Opponents say the six-inch sewer line serving three schools can't handle 618 more homes, and that the county denied a similar tie-in for the 40-lot Ballard Oaks subdivision. A resident cited county engineer emails questioning private pump stations.
Laboratory Road waterline extension
Residents with arsenic in their wells are closer to clean county water — all easements are secured and bidding starts now, with construction hoped for by summer.
Drought water restriction variances
Local pressure-washing and exterior cleaning businesses say the county's drought restrictions shut them down entirely while homeowners can still irrigate. They want the county to mirror Charlotte-Mecklenburg rules allowing commercial operators. Commissioners directed staff to bring back a proposal at the next meeting.
Laboratory Road water contamination fix
A $594,894 water main extension was awarded to fix arsenic-contaminated wells along Laboratory Road — the Laboratory Mill folks have been on bottled water for two years.
East Hwy 150 water main improvements
The county is replacing two 50-year-old six-inch water mains on East Highway 150 by shifting service to a parallel 12-inch main. The state-funded $1.07 million project goes out to bid by the end of March.
Water utility construction costs far over budget
Two critical water projects came in $4.5 million over budget because construction costs have outpaced inflation since the pandemic. Staff proposes deleting or delaying other water projects to cover it, saving $13 million over five years — and may revisit water rates.