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Church fears sewer, water rules could kill expansion project
When Central Baptist Church members started construction three years ago, they said Wendell leaders told them getting water and sewer service shouldn’t be a problem. Now the town's on the Raleigh system, and the nrules are different.
Posted — UpdatedWENDELL, N.C. — Central Baptist Church’s expansion project is nearly complete, but a problem getting water and sewer services may hold up the project.
When church members started construction three years ago, they said Wendell leaders told them getting water and sewer service shouldn’t be a problem. Since then, Wendell merged with Raleigh public utilities, which has different rules.
Raleigh's rules specify the church needs to provide water and sewer lines around the property to accommodate future development. Previously, lines were required only up to the property.
To add the lines around the property, church members may have to spend more than $100,000, which they say they don’t have.
“It would be a grave disappointment to us to have to have to pay more,” Pastor Ed Rose said.
Raleigh leaders said the city will honor whatever Wendell would have done three years ago. Wendell Town Manager David Bone said the city’s old rules are vague when it comes to these type of issues.
“The city of Raleigh would be in the best position to decide the future of its own system,” Bone said.
Wendell leaders said they would provide Raleigh with a copy of their old regulations regarding water and sewer hookups, but will not make a recommendation.
The church’s $7 million expansion project includes a Christian preschool and a Red Cross disaster relief center.
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