Brenden Jones told County Commissioners Monday that additional infrastructure funding will be coming for all area municipalities.
Rep. Brenden Jones gave county commissioners an impromptu briefing Monday night when he was being honored for his service to the county.
Jones recently spearheaded efforts to give the state its first budget since 2017. Gov. Roy Cooper reluctantly signed the bill into law when faced with a Republican-dominated General Assembly.
As part of the budget, Jones secured more than $50 million in funding for Whiteville, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Tabor City and Lake Waccamaw, as well as the courthouse project, both school systems and Southeastern Community College.
Lake Waccamaw’s $2.5 million in funding, however has become a point of contention between the county and the town. Unlike other communities, the lake did not file a “wish list” like Jones requested last year. County Manager Eddie Madden instead made a request for $2.5 million to go to a walking and bicycle trail at the lake, but outside of town limits.
When the funding was approved, however, it was budgeted for the town. Lake Waccamaw commissioners voted to use the funding for water and sewer infrastructure repairs.
Commissioner Giles “Buddy” Byrd questioned Jones about the confusion shortly after Jones was presented with a resolution of thanks from the county. Byrd said he had received calls from citizens as well as Lake commissioners about whether the funds would be going to the town or the trail project.
The resolution did not specifically mention Lake Waccamaw, but did mention $2.5 million for the trail.
“It was for a bike and pedi trail that is technically outside the city limits,” Madden said “there needs to be some clarification by the General Assembly in the next session.
Byrd said he had been told, and understood from media reports, that “there was an effort to move the money away from Lake Waccamaw.”
“To be clear about this,” Madden said. “The county made this request…not the town.” When Byrd asked if the county had made the requests for the other towns, Madden said that other municipalities had filed their own requests.
Jones said that additional funds will be forthcoming from the state to help with water and sewer infrastructure.
“There is going to be a grant in aid to the city of Lake Waccamaw,” Jones said. “The city never made any request for the city of Lake Waccamaw. This was made on their behalf by the county.
“In the budget it is going to be a ‘grant in aid’ to the town of Lake Waccamaw…It’s a grant made so the town can actually use that money in the way they want to use it.”
The funding request was originally earmarked for the trail, Jones explained, but the town identified water and sewer issues that were a higher priority.
“We’ve got a different pot of money coming to them for that,” Jones said.
The budget has not been ratified yet, Jones said, and some adjustments will be made when the final official budget is complete.
“We don’t yet know the exact numbers that will be coming down to each municipality,” Jones said. “I asked for money for every one of our towns for water and sewer infrastructures. I guess maybe when the town gets that clarity, then they’ll know how they want to use the monies, if they want to use it for the bike path or whatever.”
The budget is expected to be ratified after the General Assembly convenes Thursday.
