OWASA rate increase goes into effect today

CARRBORO -- A combined increase of about 17 percent in OWASA's monthly water and sewer rates will go into effect today.

The monthly bill for an individually metered residential customer using 5,000 gallons will increase $10.06, from $58.18 to $68.24. The bills for individual customers will depend on the extent of conservation/water use, type of service, size of the meter serving a customer, etc.

OWASA says water demand in the coming year is expected to be 13 percent below past projections as customers continue conservation practices in response to the recent drought and OWASA's conservation rates. Connection fees from new development are expected to remain about 40 percent below normal because of the slowdown in local construction.

OWASA's operating current budget totals $18.4 million, or 1.3 more more than the budget adopted last year. The budget includes substantial increases in energy, chemical, material, and employee health insurance costs; but OWASA says it is offsetting much of the increases by freezing vacant positions and other cost reductions.

About 10 percent of OWASA's 150 authorized positions are vacant and now frozen.

-- From staff reports

Town to break ground on new park Saturday

HILLSBOROUGH -- The Town of Hillsborough will celebrate the construction of Gold Park with a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The 24-acre park -- the town's first community park -- will include a multi-purpose field, playground, picnic structures, fenced dog park and a little less than half a mile of Riverwalk.

Riverwalk is a 1.5-mile planned greenway that will connect downtown Hillsborough with Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. Gold Park will be the midpoint on the walkway.

Construction of Gold Park started Aug. 4. The site's parking lot will have been paved or at least stabilized in time for the ceremony. Attendees should park on site.

To attend, please RSVP to Hillsborough Planning Director Margaret Hauth at margaret.hauth@hillsboroughnc.org or 732-1270 Ext. 86.

Gold Park is located at 415 Dimmocks Mill Road, west of Allison Street. It is in the sharp curve of Dimmocks Mill Road, just south of the railroad trestle.

The park is made possible through the donation of land from the Gold family and a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

-- From staff reports

Deputy justified in drug suspect shooting

CHATHAM COUNTY -- A Chatham County deputy was justified in shooting and wounding an armed drug suspect during a raid, a prosecutor said Monday.

Deputy J. Cruz "acted lawfully and reasonably to protect his own life and the lives of the other deputies on the scene," Assistant District Attorney Kayley Taber said in a news release. Taber said the finding was based on an SBI investigation.

Jose Gomez Miranda, 34, of 75 Irene Lane was shot April 14 when the sheriff's Special Incident Response Team and Narcotics Unit entered a mobile home in Siler City. He later was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and other offenses.

Taber said deputies announced their presence and entered the residence with a search warrant for drugs and weapons. Cruz was the first through the door and encountered Miranda, who refused to drop his weapon, the prosecutor said.

"At that time the deputy felt his life was in jeopardy and discharged his firearm, striking the suspect," Taber said. "I believe this action saved Deputy Cruz' life and was justified based on the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident."

Taber said the deputies seized more than 7 kilograms of cocaine as well as Miranda's loaded firearm.

-- From staff reports