JACKSON – Calling it a &uot;small step for the betterment of Northampton County,&uot; Northampton Manager Wayne Jenkins signed-off this week on a $750,000 deal that brings sewer improvements to an area near Gaston.

On Monday, the Northampton County Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to finalize the infrastructure improvements to the Lebanon Church Road neighborhood, located just west of I-95 off NC 46.

The deal comes at no cost to Northampton County as the project is financed 100 percent by a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant. The Northampton Commissioners applied for the grant in January of this year from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance (DCA).

On March 14, the state agency notified Northampton officials of good news, informing them they had been awarded the full grant.

&uot;This project continues to development the goal of the Northampton County Board of Commissioners in expanding water and sewer services in areas of the county that are experiencing health concerns due to failing septic systems,&uot; Jenkins said. &uot;This project is just a small part of a much bigger picture. It’s a small step in what will take years to accomplish.&uot;

At Monday’s meeting, the Commissioners heard from a review committee chosen to evaluate and score bid proposals for administrative and engineering services required to implement the grant. Jenkins was joined on that committee by Commissioner Robert Carter, Northampton Finance Officer Dot Vick and Andy Crew, Director of Northampton County’s Public Works Department.

After scoring each proposal, the committee recommended PRO, Inc. of Roanoke Rapids to handle the administrative services while McKim & Creed of Cary earned the nod for the engineering portion. PRO’s work is not to exceed $42,500 while McKim & Creed’s proposal is limited an amount no greater than $59,382.

The Commissioners approved both recommendations, a move that will bring a better way of life and healthy living to approximately 27 residences on Lebanon Church Road.

&uot;We’re delighted that Northampton County was chosen to receive this grant,&uot; Crew noted.

Crew said the next step in the process would be to schedule a meeting with DCA where additional information will be received, including a timeline on construction. He added it would be at least several months before the bidding process will begin.