SOUTH GRANVILLE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

HISTORY

In the 1940’s the Federal Government created Camp Butner in Granville County during WWII. Once the war was over the Federal Government turned the Butner “Reservation” portion over to the State of North Carolina. Leaving behind a water plant and a wastewater plant and various other buildings. The State then built John Umstead Hospital and through the years other State institutions at this site. The water and wastewater plants were operated by the State Department of Health and Human Resources ( NC DHHS) as part of John Umstead Hospital. As people came to the area to work at the various institutions, home lots were sold and homes built. In the sixties, seventies and eighties, water and sewer lines were extended across Interstate 85 to industries and other commercial businesses. In the eighties the City of Creedmoor started to send its wastewater to the Butner Waste Treatment plant.

In the nineteen ninety’s the operation of the water and wastewater plant was moved out from under John Umstead Hospital to a new Division of DHHS called The Town of Butner Operations Division.

During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s discussions were started between Granville County, other local municipalities, and the State of North Carolina pertaining to a “management change” of the water and wastewater facilities. The facilities served a greater area than just the State Institutions and local officials wanted to have a more local regional control and input into the management of the facilities. As discussions progressed the NC DHHS wanted to get back to their core functions of health care and get out of the utility business.

On November 9, 2004 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Granville County and NC DHHS which allowed the creation of the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWASA). Its functions would be to manage water and wastewater allocations that had not been given out, investigate improvements to the facilities, investigate necessary repairs, and to review rates for recommendations to NC DHHS.

On February 3, 2005, the articles of incorporation for SGWASA were signed. SGWASA was incorporated in accordance with G.S. 162A-2(7). In its incorporation the Authority would have a seven member board – 2 from Granville County Board of Commissioners, 2 from the Butner Advisory Board, 2 from the City of Creedmoor Council, and 1 from the City of Stem.

Member organizations offered assistance in the early stages, Granville County’s Finance Director acted as SGWASA’s Finance Officer and the City of Creedmoor’s Clerk acted as SGWASA’s Clerk. SGWASA hired its Executive Director on August 1, 2005.

On December 21, 2005 another Memorandum of Understanding was signed; this time between SGWASA and NC DHHS. This agreement outlined SGWASA taking over full management of all water and wastewater facilities as of January 1, 2006. On this date all employees left employment with the State and were hired by SGWASA. This agreement also outline an intent of both parties to work towards the transfer of ownership from NC DHHS to SGWASA, all physical facilities involved with the water and wastewater facilities.

On July 13, 2006, the North Carolina Legislature ratified Session Law 2006-159, Senate Bill 491 of the 2006 Session Laws. This law set the stage for all of the property to be deeded over to SGWASA on or around January 1, 2007.

On December 15, 2006, all property associated with the water and sewer system belonging to DHHS-Town of Butner was deeded over to SGWASA.

On January 1, 2008, Granville County transferred all assets associated with the Lyon Station and Cozart Sanitary Districts to SGWASA. This transfer also designated June 30, 2008 as the un-incorporation date of the two sanitary districts.

On February 1, 2008, the Town of Stem transferred all associated assets associated with its utility system to SGWASA.