Saturday, October 24, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Two City of Cherryville applications seeking a combined $3,474,046 for water and sewer improvements were ruled incomplete and ineligible for funding, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
The applications were considered during the July 15, 2026, meeting of the State Water Infrastructure Authority.
State records show both applications were missing public-hearing documentation, records concerning the city's fiscal year 2025 audit, and other supporting documentation.
The applications were therefore ineligible for consideration during the Spring 2026 Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) funding round. The state staff report said applicants with incomplete applications could submit revised applications during a future funding round.
Cherryville's water application, No. 299415, requested $1,737,023.
The project called for replacing approximately 4,011 feet of existing two-inch and six-inch water mains with six-inch pipe. It also included 14 fire hydrants and 105 service connections and meters.
According to State records, the proposed work covered portions of Howell Street, Putnam Street, Ray Street, Church Street, Brookwood Avenue, Hillcrest Drive, and West First Avenue.
West Church Street (Highway 150) in Cherryville, NC | October 15, 2026
Ashley Reep (WNN)
The state spreadsheet listed the water project's total cost as $1,727,023—$10,000 less than the city's funding request.
Cherryville's sewer application, No. 299426, also requested $1,737,023.
The project proposed rehabilitating approximately 9,502 feet of eight-inch terra-cotta sewer mains constructed during the 1940s. The work included lining 41 manholes and replacing 105 service connections from the sewer tap to the cleanout.
The sewer project's listed total cost and funding request were both $1,737,023.
Burch Environmental was identified as the preparer of both applications.
The NCDEQ staff report said Cherryville submitted separate water and sewer applications. Both applications were incomplete and ineligible.
David Twiggs representing Burch Environmental - Cherryville NC Regular Work Session and Budget Meeting - Cherryville Fire Department - April 28, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
According to the report, the applications lacked records showing that the fiscal year 2025 financial audits had been submitted and documentation demonstrating that the required public hearings had been conducted.
Cherryville City Council records show that a public hearing was held and that Burch Environmental was authorized to pursue the funding on the city's behalf. However, dates and documents associated with the meeting contain inconsistencies.
The city's online records index references an April 28 work session, while the corresponding agenda link opens a document identified as the February 24 agenda. Meeting documentation also referenced "Tuesday, April 27," although April 27, 2026, was a Monday.
WNN also previously questioned whether the city properly complied with the publication and public availability requirements during the development of its 2026–27 budget in a previous article. Cherryville City Manager Brian Dalton responded,
“These meetings were all public, and this complies with the statute of simply developing and adopting a budget.”
- Brian Dalton, City Manager
However, holding an open meeting does not by itself satisfy every applicable notice requirement. The CDBG-I hearing required advance media publication, while the budget process separately required publication stating that the proposed budget had been submitted and was available for public inspection.
The available records raise separate questions about whether the city properly noticed the CDBG-I hearing and complied with the publication requirements governing its budget process.
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