Pittsboro, NC – On November 7, 2022, the Chatham County Manager’s Office presented the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) covering fiscal years 2024-30 to the Board of Commissioners. The seven-year CIP is updated every year as a process to plan for and fund major capital needs costing more than $100,000.
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A public hearing on the proposed CIP is scheduled for Monday, November 21 at 6 p.m. as part of the Board of Commissioners Regular Session at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center in Pittsboro. To view the entire proposed CIP, visit the county website at www.chathamcountync.gov/CIP.
The following new projects are recommended in the proposed CIP:
Schools –
Chatham Park Elementary (Northern Village):
Design and construct a new school to open in the fall of 2027 in the Chatham Park Northern Village. [$47.6 million]
K-8 Gyms:
Construct new masonry/metal building gymnasiums at Bennett, Bonlee, and Silk Hope Schools. Existing gymnasiums to be demolished to create needed space. [$21.6 million]
Pollard Expansion:
Add two 6-classroom pods (behind each wing) to create additional capacity. [$2 million]
Utilities –
Bynum Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade:
Provide site security improvements, additional lighting, and a possible working platform. [+$2.76 million]
Water Treatment Plant Granular Activated Carbon:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) can be used to treat emerging contaminants such as PFAS. [+$12.1 million]
Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center –
Construct Phase 2a of the Agriculture and Conference Center site. [+$8.5 million]
Parks and Recreation –
Northwest Dam:
Address the issues identified by the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s dam safety inspection. [+$1.1 million]
Management and Information Systems (MIS) –
Install 11 miles of fiber between Renaissance Drive near Pittsboro and the backup Emergency Operations Center in Siler City. [+$1 million]
The proposed CIP also includes recommended revisions to projects already in the current CIP, based on changing needs or conditions:
New Emergency Medical Services Base:
Budget for this project has increased due to increased construction costs and the increased cost of materials (including furnishings and equipment). [+$425,000]
Park Lighting at Northeast District Park:
Budget for this project has been finalized because official bids have been received. Bids came in higher than previously estimated. [+$13,292]
The CIP also looks forward by including future projects that are not yet funded. This forethought helps Chatham County keep these needs in mind, even if a funding source has not yet been secured. The following new unfunded future project is expected to be added this year:
Schools –
New Elementary School at Chatham Park (Southern Village):
Construct a new elementary school in the Southern Village of Chatham Park to meet the projected population growth in the Northwood/Seaforth attendance zones.
Residents may sign up in advance to speak at the November 21 public hearing on the CIP, by completing the online form for public input and hearings. Following public input, Commissioners will hold a Work Session December 13 beginning at 9 a.m. to review the plan in detail. The goal is to adopt the CIP at the December 19 Regular Session.