Chapel Hill took an important step toward improving future water supply at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on Monday.

The town officially entered into an agreement with the county water utility to partner on sections of expanded supply lines to the town.

Director of the Marshall County Board of Public Utilities Tommy Whaley and board attorney Cecilia Spivy attended the meeting to finalize details of the agreement between BPU and the town regarding cost sharing on parts of the project to expand water lines along Highway 31A.

BPU will cover 100% of the first part of the plan, approaching the Duck River. Chapel Hill will join in with 40% of the second part of the extension, as the size of the pipes and resulting excavating increases costs beyond BPU’s own service needs. The town and BPU will split the cost of boring under the river in order to lay pipe.

Chapel Hill will cover 100% of the cost of the third phase which connects the line from the county master meter north of the river to the town’s system.

Aldermen had previously voted to authorized up to $1.8 million for the project. The board wanted clarity in the agreement that their cost would be capped at that amount unless the board approved additional funds.

Despite the conclusion of the agreement, completion of the project is still relatively far in the future.

Whaley said the contractor estimated a year before they would be able to get the pipe for the project and then a further 18 months of construction.

“I think this is a blessing for this town,” said Alderman Jonathan Gilbert. An alternative source, if available, would cost the town much more to complete without a partner.

Mayor Mike Faulkenberry introduced new Town Recorder Phillip Dye, who recently filled the position which has been vacant for months.

Faulkenberry also emphasized the coming 4th of July celebration on July 2.

The event will feature three to four bands, approximately 20 different food trucks, and be capped off by a 20 minute fireworks show, he said.

Aldermen also approved the second reading of the town’s budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year which begins July 1.

An outline of the proposed budget is printed in today’s Tribune.

A special called meeting for the final approval is set for June 27 at 5 p.m., prior to the monthly meeting of the planning commission.