Grant Closes Gap for Sewer Line Project
in Spruce Pine
by Matt McKinney, Mitchell News-Journal
April 23, 2003

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Spruce Pine is one step closer to seeing the completion of a $1.8 million sewer project.

The project will replace a 7,000 foot stretch of sewer line leading to the Spruce Pine Sewer Plant with a 24 inch line.

David A. Sampson, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, announced that a $1.2 million grant was awarded to Spruce Pine to go toward the completion of the project.

The $1.2 million investment will help to construct sewer upgrades along the North Toe River, supporting manufacture expansion, as a part of President Bushs commitment to keep America working, said Sampson in a press release.

Spruce Pine Town Manager Richard Canipe said the grant was the key to seeing the project become a reality.

Another $400,000 grant had already been secured from the N.C. Rural Center towards the project.

The Town of Spruce Pine had already pledged to provide the other $200,000. That amount will come from the water and sewer fund in the upcoming budget year, according to Canipe.

Currently, two 12-inch lines feed the existing 7,000 feet of 12-inch line. Canipe said that although there has never been a problem with volume along the current line, any future growth could provide problems for the sewer system. He said the project had been in the works for more than three years.

We have not had problems in the past, but we know the potential is there, said Canipe.

The sewer expansion should be adequate for any growth Spruce Pine might have in the coming years.

An exact time-frame for the completion of the project could not be set, but Canipe did say that work was tentatively scheduled to begin in early fall of this year.