“Patience and perseverance” recommended

The policymakers for Pioneer Rural Water are being advised to be patient while they persevere through what’s called a bureaucratic exercise as the water provider goes about building a treatment plant. Chuck Joye of Design South engineers gave a detailed report yesterday to the Pioneer board of directors meeting about the new treatment plant site, the Golden Corner Commerce Park, and Durham Landing, the site for a raw water intake from Lake Hartwell. Pioneer seeks a one-year extension to meet the conditions of the Rural Development division of the USDA for a construction loan, at a payback rate of 2.75%. Pioneer also seeks a grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission. Joye predicted that if all goes well, the project will seek contractors’ bids next spring. That prompted a series of questions from Pioneer board member Jerry Barlow, who stressed the value of Pioneer representatives serving as an over-seer of the work. According to Joye, Pioneer is looking at hiring as many as six new employees to run the plant, including a plant superintendent. There was also discussion about the water the plant will produce and whether it’ll be necessary for Pioneer to raise its retail rates. General Manager Terry Pruitt asked permission to defer consideration of that issue.