An Eastover Sanitary District board seat is up for grabs this year. What is it?
With a seat on the Eastover Sanitary District’s board up for grabs in November, many voters might wonder: What is a Sanitary District and what does the board do?
The Eastover Sanitary District was established in 1998 and began serving customers in 2002 after shallow wells in the then-unincorporated town led to years of complaints from residents about dark, foul water, the Observer reported. The district’s first board of directors was appointed in September 1998. In August 1999, more than 80% of voters approved a bond package to fund the sanitary district.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Eastover Sanitary District.
Who's on the board?
According to its website, the district’s board of directors has three seats, currently held by Danielle “Dani” Osborne, Liz Reeser and Helen Crumpler. Osborne has filed to run for reelection to her seat in November and was the only candidate as of Thursday afternoon, Cumberland County Board of Elections records show.
Each member serves a four-year term.
Are members compensated?
All board members are compensated for their service, district manager Lisa Lloyd said via email Thursday.
Chair Liz Reeser receives $150 monthly, while vice chair Helen Crumpler and secretary Danielle Osborne each receive $125 monthly, Lloyd said.
What does the district do?
The sanitary district provides water and sewage services to Eastover residents, its website says. The district had 7,300 customers in October 2020, according to a Cumberland County news release celebrating the opening of the district’s new offices and operations center.
The district purchases water from the city of Dunn and contracts sewer service through the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, the county said.
When the district was first created, it purchased water from PWC, but years of tension between the board and the commission prompted the agreement with the city of Dunn that began in November 2012, the Observer reported.
How often does the board meet?
According to the sanitary district’s website, the board of directors meets once a month, every fourth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the district’s main office at 3890 Dunn Road.
Are there any other sanitary districts in the county?
Cumberland County is home to five other sanitary districts, according to the county website.
The Southpoint Water District provides water to properties in the Southpoint community. Cumberland County purchases water from Bladen County and Cumberland County owns the lines, reads the water meters and bills customers.
The Overhills Water and Sewer District provides sewage services to properties in the Overhills area where there are failing septic tanks. According to a county map, the district encompasses a neighborhood on the west side of Lillington Highway that includes Murro, Huntley, Collingwood and Cronkite streets, Hussey and Brinkley drives, Heatter, Edwards and Daly avenues and Martin Circle.
The Northern Cumberland Regional Sewer System District, also known as the NORCRESS District, has provided wastewater collection for the towns of Wade, Godwin and Falcon in partnership with Cumberland County since October 2005.
The Kelly Hills Water and Sewer District provides sewage services to properties with failing septic tanks off Ramsey Street. According to a map provided by the county, the area encompasses Longhill, Lou and Radial drives and Evans Harris Lane.
The Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District was created in 2009 as part of a larger plan to develop a countywide water system but faced delays after a 2011 bond referendum to fund the district failed. The county is in the first phase of expanding water services to properties near Alderman Road and Gray’s Creek Elementary Schools, according to its website.
Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Guide to the Eastover Sanitary District
