The Ivanhoe water project continues to progress with water testing clean from iron and manganese, and road safety continues to develop around Sampson County.
That was the word given to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners during a routine meeting Monday afternoon, short of two closed-door meetings, one about economic development, the other in regard to attorney-client matters. No action was taken after either.
In regular session, the board received updates on the county’s water projects.
The Ivanhoe project has been a long process after a long wait, and involves 41 miles of line. Ivanhoe has never had a water distribution system, so this project will make a difference for the community, an area that sits far from the county seat, residents in that area have noted.
The project involves extending water mains to connect Ivanhoe to the existing Sampson County water system, including a booster pump station and backup systems. As of recent updates, about 5.4 miles of line have been installed, and the contractor is ahead of schedule on main line installation
Interim Public Works Director Ashley Holland described the water quality as “very good for that far away” and is optimistic about the water this project will supply to Ivanhoe.
The Ivanhoe water project in Sampson County must be completed by Dec. 31. This deadline was set by the county’s grant-commissioned timeline after receiving $13.3 million in Division of Water Infrastructure funding in August 2022, with permits approved in August 2024 and construction kickoff in February 2025.
While the county’s contractor has projected a closeout target of November if work proceeds without major delays, the official legal and funding requirement remains the end of December. This means the project must be fully finished and operational by that date to meet grant obligations and county commitments.
Various other water projects are also under way around Sampson, shared Holland, with the JFA project on schedule, and Old Warsaw Road and Old Mintz Road areas awaiting final approval.
During the public comment section of the meeting, James Flowers of Boney Mill Road, addressed the board about his water quality. He stated he was happy for Ivanhoe and the water quality, but he couldn’t even wash his white clothes at home because of the rust in the water. Flowers stressed that he pays his taxes, but his water quality doesn’t change. “I’m not worried about me. I’d drink water out of a swamp. I want clean water for my family,” stressed Flowers.
DOT updates
for the county
Daniel Jones, a state Department of Transportation representative, presented an update on roadway maintenance around Sampson, with lots of paving and increased intersection safety. Jones reported that funding is secured for a four-way stop at U.S. 421 and N.C. 903. Advanced warning signs have already been placed to increase safety with the plan for a four-way stop in process.
Wildcat Road and N.C. 55 have been paved, and U.S. Highway 701 will be paved from Garland up to Newton Grove. This will require road closures, Jones said, assuring the board that his team will give advance notice so the commissioners can inform their constituents.
Commissioner Lethia Lee thanked Jones and his team for all the work they are doing to improve Sampson County roadways. “I called this morning and you called me this afternoon saying you already started working on the project,” Lee stated as she expressed her gratitude, and added to the public, “I am so proud of him and his team.”
Closed meetings
The county commissioners had two closed sessions Monday, one before the public meeting to discuss economic development. The first closed session lasted from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen McLamb described the meeting, saying “everything went well today, I promise you. Good things for the county,” at the beginning of the 6 p.m. public meeting. The board then shut the door to the public a second time, this one for an attorney-client matter and held from 6:55 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. The board adjourned the meeting after this time.
Chairman McLamb stressed to the public as he adjourned the meeting: “we see things that are wrong, and we’re trying to right them.”
There was no other discussion about what transpired behind closed doors, but both meetings were in accordance with the N.C. Open Meetings Law.