Lake Junaluska director outlines water, sewer finances and plans to seek wastewater grant

Public Works Director Carroll Woody reported to the Junaluska Assembly Community Council on water and sewer operations, funding and meter replacement plans at the Nov. 11 meeting. The minutes state the board will pursue a wastewater grant similar to a prior water study and is applying for funding to finance water-system improvements.

The minutes record that the Board of Trustees approved 2026 service charges and list the new rate as ".482/100 dollars." Financial figures in the minutes show a reserves balance of $400,490.88 and list total amounts in collections at $1,520,176. The water and sewer funds were reported as being about $468,329 in the black for the period reviewed. Non-revenue water, the percentage of water unaccounted for in the system, was reported at 19.83%.

Woody told the council that all residential meters have been installed; larger commercial or higher-capacity meters remain to be addressed as they fail because of their higher replacement cost. The minutes say meters "are complete except for the larger meters. We will do those as they fail based on cost for the larger meters." No specific timeline or replacement budget for the larger meters was included in the minutes.

The council reviewed the capital improvement plan, which lists several waterline and valve projects and a proposed 2026 dump truck at $75,000. The minutes show a total capital estimate of $2,240,676 with a budgeted amount of $1,953,062 and a variance recorded in the materials.

The meeting record does not include a detailed breakdown of proposed grant amounts, matching requirements, or expected timelines for the wastewater study and grant application. The minutes note the board will pursue grant funding but do not specify application deadlines or funders.

The council did not take a separate vote on the grant pursuit during this meeting; the materials and report were received as part of the director's report. The next procedural step identified in the minutes is continued pursuit of funding and completion of meter replacements as required.