CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland County Water and Sewer Advisory Committee pleaded for new members at the county’s board of supervisors meeting on Tuesday, July 14.

The committee was in search of volunteers for voting districts one, four and five, while also asking the board to consider adding two at-large members in the future. The need for more members comes as the committee considers a recommended increase in service rates.

“Our committee has wavered greatly,” said water and sewer committee member Carolyn Helgeson, noting that water and sewer service was provided in various sections of the county.

“These things all need attention. It has to be maintained. The equipment has to be maintained,” she said of the system.

Helgeson, who was representing the committee, also asked the board to allow the committee time to amend their bylaws.

During the meeting, District Two Supervisor and Board Chairman Lloyd Banks asked if anyone attending the meeting would be willing to volunteer which resulted in District One resident Patricia Hillard joining the committee.

Helgeson explained that to be on the committee one has to attend their monthly meetings which are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Members also have to be willing to “study water and sewer questions that arise,” make recommendations to the utilities department regarding the budget and give the board guidance on issues pertaining to their committee.

Helgeson mentioned a possible water and sewer rate increase which the committee has been unable to discuss due to the lack of members. “When we (the committee) met back in June, we did not address the rate increase because we did not have enough people to vote on it,” Helgeson said.

During this year’s budget season, County Administrator and attorney Vivian Giles made the recommendation for a water and sewer rate increase for utility customers to the board. “The water and sewer advisory board would like the opportunity to consider that,” Giles said of the recommended potential increase. “They are an advisory committee and their role is in an advisory capacity only. But, they would like an opportunity to evaluate the rates and rate structure and that sort of thing, to be heard on that recommendation that I have made.”

Giles also noted that there have been no water and sewer rate increases for utility customers for a “significant period of time” and those expenses are going up.

“We have had some repairs that we have had to take care of in the last year to 18 months as well. And you know, those things, they happen. It’s just going to happen, but they need to be paid for,” said Giles.

“It (the rate increase) truly relates to just the cost of running the system. Whether you are a brand-new customer or a pre-existing customer, it really relates to the day-to-day operations and then the repairs. And most of those repairs are actually on the sewer system, not the water system,” she said.

A $300,000 repair project on the sewer system began this month, which will repair sunken manholes.

The board will revisit the topic at their August meeting.