West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo cautioned local residents not to jump to conclusions over the town’s proposed sewer project Monday, during a town council meeting.

With approximately 15 residents in attendance, Kilgo emphasized the council has not made any hard commitments toward the project, which he estimated previously will cost about $1 million to complete. He also vowed to the residents the council will not continue pressing for the sewer if it seems to be an unattainable goal.

“We have said there is a need, and that’s all,” Kilgo said. “There’s no need worrying about hook-up costs or this and that until we know for sure we’re going to do it.”

To more clearly establish whether the project is feasible, Kilgo said, they hope to enter into a design phase for the sewer as early as April or May 2007. The town currently has at least one proposal from management company Novus Utilities to design the system. It came in at $6,900.

The council also heard a brief presentation Monday from the firm Goodwin, Mills and Lakewood also vying to be involved in the project — because the design is a service, state law does not require the council to bid the project.

While Kilgo said he did not know if the council will go with either company, he indicated they probably won’t know if the project is feasible until after a good design and estimate is made.

“If it doesn’t make sense right now, we’ll shut it down and keep the information for people down the road,” he said.

Tentative models for the system use the sewage treatment facility at West Point School and run an eight-inch sewer line from the school to 157. According to Kilgo, the hope is that as businesses locate on the highway and utilize the sewer, the town will be able to extend the line the length of 157, all the way to the town limits.

Kilgo said he is currently seeking every funding option possible in an effort to keep the town’s people from shouldering a mountain of long-term debt. He also said his tentative plan does not force any of the town’s people — including businesses and new residents — to tie onto the system if they don’t want to.

Despite his optimism, the sewer proposition got its first internal criticism Monday, when council member Pat McKenzie expressed concerns over the long-term management of a sewer.

“I don’t want to be forced to do something,” she said. “This council may say that people will not be forced to tie on, but the next council could change that.”

Other concerns over the system were raised by several residents and business owners during a special meeting earlier this month. They included whether the sewer would really attract industry to the town or merely attract new competition for existing businesses, the overall cost of the system and whether it could be constructed completely on County Road rights of way.

Kilgo said the vast majority of the people he has talked to have come out in support of the project.