Franklin BOC Stalled on Infrastructure Options for Development of Properties at Exit 160

One of three proposed plans to run sewer to two county properties being marketed by the Industrial Building Authority is now off the table as far as County Commissioners are concerned.

At their Monday evening meeting, Franklin County Commissioners were split on how to get sewer infrastructure to acreage at the corner of Hwys 51 & 59 and acreage across I-85 behind the Flying J off Exit 160.

Two separate developers want to market the properties respectively but Industrial Building Authority Director Tonya Powers told the Board major industries would not be interested if there’s no infrastructure.

Powers said the IBA plans to move forward with helping one of the developers of what is known as the Corridor property at the corner of Hwys 51 & 59, to find the funding they need to help pay for infrastructure, but they need an infrastructure plan in place first so they know which kinds of grants and loan funding would be available to them.

However, the Commissioners did not vote to approve any one of the three plans presented last week by Franklin County Engineer John Phillips at their work session.

Instead, the discussion turned to the County’s portion of funding whichever plan is chosen, and how much the developer is willing to contribute to the construction.

So, the issue for the County boils down to which of the three sewer plans presented at last week’s work session would be the most cost-effective and how the County would fund its share.

The first option presented by Phillips last week proposes building a lift station with a force main tied into the existing sewer to serve the property on Highway 51 which is zoned industrial.

Phillips said the cost for materials and construction to tie in a lift station and force main is just over $1.5 million and doesn’t include other costs associated with construction such as engineering.

Commissioner Elizabeth Busby said she was in favor of Option 1.

Option 2 would also only be for the Hwy 51 property.

Phillips pointed out that the acreage in question is part of a bigger property owned by the Flying J which is already served by sewer and a lift station.

He said that with both Option 2 and Option 4-the staff’s recommendation would be to eliminate the existing lift station and construct a new one which could potentially serve 170 acres.

Cost estimate is just over $1.9 million.

Option 4 would build a lift station and a gravity line under I-85 down to Owl Hollow Road, which would potentially serve about 457 acres on Highway 59.

The gravity line, lift station, and force main would tie into the existing sewer system, Phillips said and would cost about $2.2 million.

Monday night, Commissioner Kyle Foster motioned for the County to approve Option 4 and that was seconded by Commissioner Josh Smith.

However, the motion died by a vote of 3 against and 2 for with Commissioners Elizabeth Busby, Robert Franklin, and Commission Chair Jeff Jacques voting against.

Jacques said he’s not ready to make a decision until the IBA and County first consider other current available lift station options, as well as how much the developers would be willing to contribute before deciding on one of the plans.

Jacques pointed to Phillips’ statement last week that it would cost the County $14 million to expand the Carnesville sewage treatment plant to accommodate new industry in the Exit 160 area.

Meantime, at Wednesday morning’s IBA meeting, Powers announced the IBA is moving forward with helping the developer of the Corridor property find funding for infrastructure.