Utility merger agreement officially signed by both parties; Sanford to take control of Pittsboro’s infrastructure by 2024

By Chuck Thompson Chatham News & Record

THE UTILITY MERGER interlocal agreement between Pittsboro and Sanford was officially signed at Sanford’s regular city council meeting on August 1, 2023, making Sanford the official utility provider for the Town of Pittsboro.

“This historic decision for the City of Sanford and Town of Pittsboro sets a foundation for both parties to succeed now and into the future,” said Sanford Mayor Rebecca Salmon. “To make this happen without placing a burden on Sanford’s rate payers is a tremendous achievement and credit to our team.”

This agreement will have an almost immediate benefit for the residents of Pittsboro, with a 5% reduction in water utility rates, and improvements to the water utility system that has been needed, as confirmed in a statement to Chatham News & Record, by Pittsboro Town manager Jonathan Franklin.

“Our ratepayers will experience an immediate 5% reduction in rates, effective August 1st,” said Franklin, “This partnership will ensure rate stability, leading to further reductions in utility rates over time by combining our resources and operations. This partnership also expedites much-needed infrastructure upgrades, boosting our service delivery and resilience.”

While Pittsboro will see a 5% decrease in their overall service, Sanford residents saw a 6% increase in their water costs, and 3% increase in sewer, which went into effect July 1, 2023. In a June 21, 2023 press release The

“This partnership promises enhanced reliability, cost efficiency, and quality for the residents of both communities.”

Franklin

City of Sanford said that this was necessary to maintain the city’s utilities for their fiscal budget year of 2023-2024.

However, Freese and Nichols, the consulting firm hired to originally explore the merger, claimed the benefits would be beneficial to both communities, by allowing better grant funding opportunities, create a strong relationship for future capital projects, and grow both economies, even though the firm identified no negative impact to Sanford’s rate payers, according to an August 3, 2023 statement released by Sanford’s Public Information officer Kelly Miller.

Pittsboro had signed the agreement at their regular town hall meeting on July 24, 2023, and now with Sanford having signed the agreement, Pittsboro’s assets are required to be transferred to The City of Sanford no later than June 30, 2024. These assets include Pittsboro’s infrastructure, meters, software, billing / accounts, customer service, and any other systems and material required for integration.

“We are excited for this opportunity to merge our water and wastewater services with the City of Sanford. This partnership promises enhanced reliability, cost efficiency, and quality for the residents of both communities,” Pittsboro Town Manager Franklin said in an email to The Chatham News & Record. Franklin went on to add, “While there may be a few initial adjustments, this collaboration will greatly benefit the Town in the long run. We extend our continued thanks to our residents and ratepayers for their support during this transition, and we promise continued work toward providing sustainable and high-quality utility service. As always, the community’s well-being stays at the forefront of our minds, and the actions taken over the last few months remind us of our dedication to the public and improving quality of life.”

Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. to close all facilities

By Bob Sutton North State Journal

ASHEBORO — Klaussner

Furniture Industries, which once had been the largest employer in Randolph County, is shutting down operations at all its facilities, the company announced Monday.

The company was tightly tied to Asheboro, which housed its corporate headquarters.

According to a news release: “Klaussner’s lending source has unexpectedly refused to continue to fund the Company’s operations. This outcome was not reasonably foreseeable, but due to these unexpected circumstances, Klaussner can no longer sustain its operations.

There will be more than 3,800 job losses, with a majority of those connected to Asheboro and Randolph County, based on some reports. The company’s announcement said the process of shuttering all its facilities began Monday.

The company is working to provide additional information and resources for its displaced employees.

“This information will be communicated directly to employees via contact information we have on file,” the company’s release said.

Klaussner Home Furnishings has been a leading solu- tions provider to the furniture industry since 1963. The company manufactures more than 70 percent of its products domestically through its five manufacturing campuses in North Carolina.

A published report in 2020 said that about 4,000 people were employed in the state by Klaussner. There were also facilities in Candor and Robbins after more than 160 workers were impacted by a Greensboro plant closing. That was believed to be the first time the company closed a plant.

FurnitureToday, a trade site, reported Monday that based on multiple industry sources, “the company had been challenged recently to maintain current payments with key suppliers and had difficulty receiving goods.”

According to Furniture World Magazine, the company was founded by Stuart Love in 1963 and purchased by Hans Klaussner in 1979. Klaussner’s management team acquired the company in 2011, then sold it to private equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners in 2017.

Brands that might be most recognizable that were manu- factured by Klaussner Furniture are Trisha Yearwood Home Collection and Stacy Garcia Home. Klaussner Furniture’s announcement follows the March closing of a furniture manufacturer in Thomasville. Creative Metal and Wood, Inc., had been in business since 1954.

In June, Cox Manufacturing in Hickory shut down after 90 years in operation.