Smithfield Council Approves Water Rate Study, Utility Truck, Pool Scoreboard

SMITHFIELD — The Smithfield Town Council approved more than $300,000 in utility and recreation spending, including a study that will examine whether the town’s water rates need to increase.

The three items were approved during the council’s Oct. 6 meeting.

Water Rate Study
Council members approved an $18,000 contract with Utility Financial Solutions to examine the financial health of Smithfield’s Water Fund.

Town staff said increasing water and sewer costs prompted the review of the current rate structure to determine whether rates need to change now or in future years.

The study will examine the cost of providing water service to different customer classes and develop a five-year financial projection.

It will also review cash reserves, debt coverage, infrastructure reinvestment and other financial measures.

The consultant is expected to identify potential long-term rate adjustments and develop a three-year rate design.

A final report will be presented to town management and the council.

The $18,000 will come from money previously budgeted for digitized mapping and assessment of the town’s water system.

New Electric Utility Truck
The council also approved the $256,113 purchase of a new digger derrick for Smithfield’s electric utility crews.

Funding for the specialized vehicle was spread across two fiscal years, with $400,000 budgeted for the purchase.

Town staff obtained three bids and recommended the $256,113 proposal from Altec.

New SRAC Scoreboard
A third approval will replace the competition-pool scoreboard at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center.

The overall project is listed at $57,400, with Smithfield’s share stated at $27,100.
Johnston County Public Schools is also contributing toward the project under the joint-use agreement for the facility.

The replacement scoreboard will connect with the pool’s existing starting system, in-deck cabling and touchpads.

The new full-color LED display will be capable of showing swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming information, along with competitors’ names, graphics, animation and live video.

The display and installation are priced at $47,500, with another $1,000 for removal and disposal of the existing scoreboard.

An additional $6,200 will cover equipment including a starting-system mount, cable harness, lane timing buttons and two touchpads.

Smithfield had budgeted up to $30,000 for its portion of the scoreboard replacement in the current fiscal year.