Rural Water proposes pump station on county land; offers $17,000 for 6,000 sq ft parcel

Chester County's Rural Water representatives asked the finance committee on March 23 to consider transferring roughly 6,000 square feet of county‑owned land on Highway 9 for a pump station that would extend reliable water and fire protection to parts of Brock's Mill and Hilly and Edwards Road.

Miss Stanley introduced the item and said Rural Water is offering $17,000 for the parcel. A Rural Water representative told the committee the pump station would increase water flow to the area, support about 35 households that are part of a CDBG‑funded project and allow more reliable service to a cluster of rural customers; the speaker added the project also installed 13 fire hydrants on the road as part of the grant work.

Rural Water staff estimated the pump station and related work would add roughly $200,000 in project costs and said materials availability is the main risk — contractors are reporting multi‑week delays for valves and fittings. "I would hope in the next 12 months it could be completed," the Rural Water representative said; the group qualified that 12–18 months was a reasonable estimate when materials arrive.

Committee members asked how many households would be served, whether the offer reflected property value and whether the county would be giving up development equity by selling a corner of the parcel. Staff said the parcel has been used for storage and is roughly 1.5 acres overall but the corner under discussion is the smaller 6,000‑sq‑ft section; members asked staff to provide valuation and ownership details and to invite Rural Water back if the committee wants to proceed.

There was no final vote to transfer land at this meeting; committee members signaled the request is promising given local need for reliable water and improved fire protection but requested additional technical and valuation information before recommending an action to the full council.