County approves $1.3 million for water line projects

Brunswick County commissioners approved $1.3 million worth of water line projects at their Nov. 5 meeting.

Brunswick County Engineer Brigit Flora reported bids were opened for the Old Shallotte Road water line on Oct. 25.

The county received nine bids and staff recommended awarding the project to McArthur Construction, the lowest bidder.

McArthur Construction bid $833,449.32 to install 18,800 linear feet of 12-inch water line along Old Shallotte Road to connect it to lines on McMilly Road and Green Bay Road.

Commissioners voted unanimously, 5-0, to move forward with the contractor.

“This has been a long time coming, with change to the other end (of Old Shallotte Road) coming up,” commissioners’ chairman Bill Sue said after the vote.

Jerry Pierce, Brunswick County Director of Public Utilities, recommended the board approve awarding the Oak Island Waterline Reconnection project to Carmichael Construction Company.

Three bids were received and opened Oct. 24. Carmichael presented to lowest bid, $504,999.

According to Pierce, the project will install a 12-inch water line that connects from the county system at St. James to the Oak Island water system.

An existing 16-inch water line provides Oak Island’s primary water source, but the 12-inch line will serve as an emergency feed for Oak Island, Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island.

Pierce said the second line is intended as an emergency line, not a supplemental line.

“We try to provide two feeds to all out wholesale customers. If something happens to the first line, we can still supply some water,” Pierce said.

The St. James Property Owners Association had to approve an easement for the project and asked for a shorter time period to complete the work.

“The redesign got easier once the St. James POA board approved the project,” Pierce told commissioners.

The board approved the award 5-0. 

Commissioners approved both contracts contingent on county attorney Huey Marshall’s review and approval of the construction contracts.

Brian Slattery is a staff writer for The Brunswick Beacon. Reach him at 754-6890 or bslattery@brunswickbeacon.com.