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Carroll County has approved a water agreement with Mount Airy (N.C.) on multiple occasions in the past year, but local officials believe Thursday’s agreement will finally come to fruition.

Gary Larrowe, Executive Director of the Carroll County Public Service Authority (PSA), even joked about the problems the Authority has had trying to get the agreement finalized.

“We’ve approved a version of this at just about every meeting for the past year,” Larrowe said tongue in cheek. “It’s been a lengthy process. We do have one more agreement that will hopefully be agreed upon. Mount Airy hasn’t approved it yet, but (federal funding agency) Rural Development has and we have, so two of the three parties have agreed to it and hopefully we will get Mount Airy’s approval shortly.”

The agreement would help Carroll County serve approximately 40 new residential customers with water, as well as the businesses along Exit 1 near Lambsburg if Mount Airy signs off on the agreement.

Larrowe said the agreement would allow Carroll County to connect to a Mount Airy City-owned water tank in the Lambsburg area. Carroll would be able to use up to 9,999 gallons per day from the tank, which the PSA would augment with two wells it has in the area. It may need to punch another well to satisfy demand, he added.

As part of an agreement between the City of Mount Airy, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Mount Airy would sell the PSA potable drinking water up to a maximum of 9,999 gallons per day until Nov. 10, 2018. Once that agreement expires, the PSA could purchase up to 99,999 gallons per day provided that Mount Airy shall not be required to furnish the PSA any amount in excess of 3 million gallons per month.

According to the agreement, amounts would be measured through a master meter at Surratt Drive and Imogene Road. Included water rates indicate a monthly charge of $3.08 per account, with monthly minimum charges based on meter sizes. Ranges begin at $20.30 for three-fourths of an inch up to $1,624 for eight inches.

Monthly rates per thousand gallons are listed as $4.46 for zero to 2,000 gallons, $6.28 for 2,001 to 1 million gallons, and $5.38 for more than 1 million gallons. Rural Development requires at least a 40-year loan for the agreement, Larrowe added.

“We are just waiting on Mount Airy to nod their heads in agreement,” Larrowe said.

PSA Chairman Tom Littrell asked if he expected that to take place in December.

“That is the intention although there is no guarantee,” Larrowe said.

PSA member William Payne made a motion to approve the agreement with Mount Airy. Jeanette Dalton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.