Discussion of the wastewater regionalization project between Ellerbe and Rockingham dominated the Ellerbe Town Council’s monthly meeting Monday, according to Mayor Lynn McCaskill.

“This is by far the biggest project the Town of Ellerbe has ever undertaken, as far as the dollar amount,” McCaskill said Tuesday. “We want to make sure that we see the steps on the path before we get there, and do what’s right for the citizens of Ellerbe.”

He said the project is still “in the very preliminary stages,” and the town is currently completing grant applications with the Clean Water Fund, the Rural Center and the Golden LEAF Foundation.

“We have been advised we may be looked favorably upon with the proper applications, but those applications have to be completed,” McCaskill said.

In addition to finding grant funding the town must also complete an agreement with the City of Rockingham, McCaskill pointed out, and the two municipalities are engaged in talks.

“This is a joint effort between the Town of Ellerbe, Richmond County and the City of Rockingham,” McCaskill said. “When it’s a joint effort, you don’t just get things done in 30 days, but to me this makes sense for the people of Ellerbe.”

“We’ve displayed a willingness to do this the whole time in discussions with the mayor and city council,” Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump said. “It offers us an opportunity to help Ellerbe out with the situation they have with their wastewater facilities, and it offers an opportunity for economic development.”

He said this is “a win-win situation for everybody,” and sees no major roadblocks to getting the deal done.

He explained the lagoon sewage system the town now implements was started decades ago, but has become more expensive to operate over time as the state and federal governments have become more strict on environmental guidelines.

“The effluent from our sewage flows into Tom’s Creek, and that is not a very large creek,” McCaskill said. “If it was a much larger stream, we’d probably be all right. Unfortunately, it’s not.”

He said the work is estimated to cost $4 to $4.5 million upon completion.

Ellerbe also enacted a budget amendment to pay outright for a new garbage truck, Town Clerk Jane Smith said.

She explained the vehicle was expected to come in during the last fiscal year, which expired on July 1, but there was a delay from the manufacturer, necessitating it be paid for in this budget.

“We moved money over from savings to go ahead and pay for it, that way it saves the citizens of Ellerbe from having to pay the interest,” McCaskill said. “We’ve been building up the fund balance for years because vehicles do wear out, and a garbage truck or a fire truck is an expensive item.”

Smith also explained the town wiped the names of those who owe money for water out of the system.

“It’s something we do periodically,” she said. “Most of the time when they owe us, they’ll end up coming back and we get the money back anyway.”