Harnett County OKs $698K sewer expansion as Lillington-to-Coats growth pressures rise

Harnett County Commissioners approved a sewer extension project and reviewed the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the Dec. 9 meeting.

During action topics, Harnett Regional Water Director Tommy Burns recommended Highfill Infrastructure Engineering to install new gravity and force main sewer lines, and upgrade the existing sewer pump stations at the North Carolina Highway 27 East and U.S. Highway 421 South corridors. The lines will extend from Lillington to Coats for a cost not to exceed $698,900.

The extended sewer service’s purpose is to increase capacity and provide infrastructure for increasing development.

Without discussion, the board approved Burns’ recommendation for the sewer expansion with Highfill Infrastructure Engineering.

Traveling from Lillington to Coats affords a view of small-town blocks, rolling farmland and patchy residential subdivisions—now.

Rising development pressure digests the historic farmland along the corridor, spitting out new housing driven by commuters and lower costs outside the Raleigh area.

Both towns face limits on water, sewer, road capacity and downtown availability, and even with the Harnett Horizons 2040 plan, the corridor risks losing all rural character as subdivisions spread, like citizens heard today with the commissioners’ silence and approval of the enabling infrastructure.

During presentations, Assistant County Manager Lisa McFadden said they have 82 CIP projects. The county’s seven-year plan includes projects of $100,000 and above. CIP lists are updated each fall and they operate on a pay-go system to ensure funding.

The CIP plans include $549 million listed as future projects for the board of education new facility requests because the county does not have the funds now.

The agenda packet’s pages 12-13 share the recommended changes to the approved CIP plan for 2025-2026. Read the list here.

Total cost of each of the 82 projects begins on page 19.

The public provides input at the Dec. 15 meeting and adoption of the CIP plan Jan. 5, 2026.

Dec. 9, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.