by Frances Hayes, Wilkes Journal-Patriot
Nicole Johnston, the executive director for the Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority (YVSA), brings to her position plenty of experience and training, as well as a positive, exuberant attitude about the job.
Joining the three towns of Ronda, Jonesville and Elkin into a joint governing authority over a sewer system would seem to require just the attributes Mrs. Johnston will be bringing to the job.
Mrs. Johnston, a 1995 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found her first job out of school in Conover where she served as the laboratory supervisor. Later she worked for the Town of Mooresville, again in the wastewater treatment field, as laboratory manager. There she was responsible for three departments; laboratory operations, pretreatment operations and the FOG (Fats, Oils and Grease) Program.
Along the way she trained and earned more complex training in the field, attaining a Grade IV Wastewater Operator certification, which is the highest grade in North Carolina, Class IV Laboratory Analyst for North Carolina, Grade IV Pretreatment Specialist, as well as receiving her Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Gardner Webb University. Her last job, before becoming the executive director for the YVSA, was as the environmental manager for True Inc. in Elkin.
“Once you get into the wastewater treatment business it is hard to get out,” laughs Mrs. Johnston, an Alexander County native and 1992 graduate of Alexander Central High School. She is the daughter of Richard and Rochelle Burch of Bethlehem and is married to Bryant Johnston. The two live in Statesville.
A yoga teacher in her spare time, Mrs. Johnston brings a calm attitude to the ever-changing aspects of her job.
The Authority was originally scheduled to take over the three systems on March 15, but that date could be pushed back because of easement concerns and reserve funding issues. The snowy winter has also delayed improvements to the Elkin wastewater treatment plant and other construction projects of the Authority.
Hired on Sept. 21 2009, Mrs. Johnston’s first office was in the Elkin Town Hall, but in the last month has been moved into a space formerly used by the Elkin Public Works Department on Memorial Drive.
Since being hired, she has had plenty of time to become acquainted with the many facets of the Authority, in the planning stages since 2005. In the early months of 2006, the Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority was officially created.
The Authority will be the only one in the state to bring together three towns in three different counties and is seen as a prime example of regionalization and shared resources, state officials have said.
Already Ronda’s sewer system goes to Elkin’s treatment plant, located at 230 Marion Road. Jonesville’s treatment plant, in bad condition, is scheduled to be dismantled as soon as pump stations are installed and pipes are laid under the river, tentatively set for October of this year. The Elkin wastewater treatment plant is being upgraded to serve the regional Authority and that completion date is also tentatively set for October.
Once completed, the Authority will serve an estimated 3,207 customers with a wastewater treatment plant capacity of 1.8 million gallons per day. Ronda estimates it will have 200-220 customers; Jonesville has 1,200 and Elkin has 1,800.
By consolidating, the three towns can address future wastewater issues head on and avoid potential inflow and infiltration issues, said Mrs. Johnston. The Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority will administer the collection, treatment and administration of wastewater services among the three towns.
Funding for the $6,275 million project has mostly come from grants from the N. C. Rural Economic Development Center and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, with $2,275 million being paid by the Authority.
The project was a good candidate for grants due to the consolidation of wastewater flows based on the regionalization, pointed out Mrs. Johnston.
State officials have even said the project made good economic sense and good technical sense. That and the amount of cooperation shown in the project makes it stand out in the state.
The governing of the Authority will be by a five-member board made up of representatives from each of the towns.
They are; Wayne Moore, chairman, and a Jonesville commissioner; J. L. Lowe Jr., vice chairman and an Elkin commissioner; Harold Lee Wagoner, a retired Elkin commissioner; Tommy Casstevens, a Jonesville commissioner and Victor Varela, mayor of Ronda.
They meet each month in the Elkin Town Hall and meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 10 at 9 a.m.
Rates have tentatively been set by the Authority for the three towns. The rates will be the same for all three towns. The rates, if approved, will be as follows: $14 minimum monthly bill with a 2,000 gallon allowance and $6.50 per 1,000 gallons over the allowance.
This will be a decrease of $3 for Ronda which currently has a minimum bill of $17 per month. However Elkin and Jonesville customers will see a slight increase in their monthly rates.
Elkin does not have a minimum bill currently. The monthly rate is $6.18 per 1,000 gallons with a $1.40 administrative fee. Jonesville’s current minimum bill is $14.36 which includes 2,500 gallons and $2.88 per 1,000 gallons above the allowance.
The three towns have also been asked to help provide reserve money for the Authority until it is up and running.
Ronda, the smallest customer, has agreed to pay $10,000 for two years and $5,000 the third year. Jonesville commissioners will vote this month on its suggested payment of $50,000 for two years and $25,000 the third year. Elkin, the biggest customer, has been asked to pay $100,000 for two years and $50,000 the third year.
Mrs. Johnston is enthusiastic about the start-up of the Authority, especially “due to the great cooperation provided by all three towns to ensure that this sewer Authority gets up and running in the most effective and efficient way possible.”