The latest evidence of the Tri-County's cooperative strength popped to the surface this week with announcement of a $750,000 grant for a Ronda sewer system expansion.
The collection system in Ronda is a separate part of what will become a regional system of waste water disposal. The overall system is a collaborative venture between the towns of Elkin, Jonesville and Ronda. Every part adds up to a stronger whole.
The three towns have come together over the past two years and put together an entity separate from their governments that cooperates in handling a task.
One of the cooperative's values is an economy of scale. Instead of running a sewer treatment plant in Elkin and Jonesville, the regional sewer authority operates one plant in Elkin that handles the waste of all three areas.
The effort has been a grueling struggle with numbers and details that is turning into a masterfully progressive accomplishment that will help mitigate higher sewer treatment charges.
The authority was made possible by Clean Water Trust Fund dollars. They came our way because the towns were willing to work together and put the money to the most effective use.
The grant announced last week raises the idea again that we all benefit by working together.
It was a project supported by the Ronda commissioners and then-mayor Howard Prevette. Now Ronda's new mayor, Victor Varela, is seeing the advantage of the improvements. He sees the system as a vital step toward attracting small business.
A direct benefit to Ronda is that residents and businesses no longer have to rely on private septic systems, providing commercial building potential.
The next step, according to Varela will be fiber optic cable to bring highspeed Internet to East Wilkes.
Commercial and residential growth in East Wilkes will benefit us all. it is a lesson to us all to work together for the good of us all.
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