WINTON – The Hertford County Board of Commissioners has approved a capital project ordinance and an engineering services agreement that will allow the expansion and improvement to the county’s Northern Water District.

That action was taken Monday night when the commissioners, convening as the governing board of the Northern and Southern Rural Water Districts, held their regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting.

According to Mike Bradley, the county’s Director of Facilities and Public Works, the $1.28 million project will add 4.61 miles of new water lines that will serve a total of 61 new customers residing along Vaughan’s Creek Road, Pine Street, Top Street, Collin Road and Underwood Road.

Additionally, the project will loop a water main from U.S. 158 to Cool Springs Road; replace 964 water meters; and add 10 fire hydrants.

The majority of the revenue for the project will come from an $811,000 loan from USDA Rural Development. That agency is also providing a $383,000 grant to the county for the project.

Other revenue sources include a $75,960 appropriation from the Rural Water District’s fund balance, and $12,200 from sign-up fees of the new customers. The anticipated revenue from those sign-ups is $200 per customer.

On the flip side of the capital project, $1,282.160 will be spent on construction and new equipment ($1,003,010), engineering fees ($206,000), interest ($18,000), contingency funds ($50,150), and legal fees ($5,000).

A breakdown of the costs associated with the individual areas of expansion was included with the engineering services agreement.

Water line extensions on Underwood Road carry a construction fee of $318,250. The Collin Road portion of the project will cost $213,275. Expansion on Vaughan’s Creek Road is $169,015 while the combined costs on Pine Street and Top Street is $65,550.

Replacement costs for 964 water meters in the Northern District comes with a price tag of $236,470 ($245.30 per meter).

“The action by the county commissioners puts this project into play,” said Hertford County Manager Loria Williams.

The payback, minus the $383,000 grant, comes over a period of time through customer user fees.