Residents solicit for MUD water access

10:08 p.m. July 8, 2025

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

A group of residents from Turkey Creek Loop appeared before the Moore County Utility Board on Tuesday to request access to city water, raising concerns about the community’s basic infrastructure needs in the rural area.

“We’re just here to see if there’s any way, shape, form, or fashion that we can get city water down through there,” said Tracy Rose, who lives at 386 Turkey Creek Loop. He explained that at least three homes currently have no access to city water along the stretch, and several more may be interested in service.

Residents previously brought the issue before the board, and board members discussed earlier quotes for installing the service during the meeting. Extending the water line to Turkey Creek Loop – a rural area with rocky terrain – requires significant infrastructure investment.

MUD board members acknowledged that previous estimates indicated the project would be expensive, with some past quotes estimating costs in the tens of thousands of dollars per customer. One challenge, they explained, is that the water line extension must avoid crossing a nearby bridge, which would trigger time-consuming and costly permitting processes.

“Permitting to cross that bridge could take years,” MUD Chair Barry Posluszny explained. “That’s why the last project stopped at the bridge – on this side of Turkey Creek Loop.”

Board members emphasized that any progress would require consensus from all residents in the area. “We can’t do it piecemeal,” Posluszny said. “Everybody has to agree they want it done.”

The board members confirmed that they had previous documentation for a similar project in the area and agreed to locate and present it at the next board meeting. They also suggested residents explore a surcharge model – similar to one used in another part of the county – where customers pay a monthly fee over time to help cover the cost of installation.

“I pay $15 a month on top of my water bill for the line that was run up Smith Chapel,” board member Greg Guinn noted.

Rose said he would be open to a similar fee, given the difficulty of drilling wells in the area due to the presence of solid limestone and slate rock. He recounted a failed well-drilling attempt that resulted in a massive four-foot-wide borehole with no usable water.

Board members encouraged Rose to collect the names and addresses of all households interested in the service so staff can prepare more accurate cost estimates. The next MUD board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 12.

“They don’t necessarily have to come [to the meeting],” Posluszny advised. “All they’ve got to do is call and say, ‘This is my address. I want to be involved.’ ”

If enough residents express interest, the board indicated it would revisit the project’s feasibility and potentially pursue updated bids. This step has proven difficult in the past due to a lack of contractor interest in small-scale infrastructure jobs.

Still, the board acknowledged the community’s frustration.

“I don’t believe we should be in this day and age and not be able to run it,” Posluszny said. “But we have to balance the cost and logistics with limited resources.”

Residents of Turkey Creek Loop who are interested in participating should contact the utility office before the Aug. 12 meeting with their name and address. The MUD telephone number is (931) 759-4297.