Washington is considering helping pay for extending an existing water line to Beaufort County Community College’s “live burn” training center on the BCCC campus.

The city is willing to pay half of the estimated $55,730 for a 10-inch water line extension to the training center, if Beaufort County is willing to pay the other half of the estimated cost of the project. Also, the city wants the project to be designed and put out for bids before it commits to helping extend the water line about 635 feet.

“I’m sure you would have to bid that out to get a firm price,” BCCC President Barbara Tansey said. “We cannot use state money for this. We’re out of county money.”

The council passed on two other funding options. One had the city paying for the entire project. The other had the city not providing funds for the project.

Tansey told the City Council during its meeting Monday the project’s estimated cost is based on data provided by the city’s water-resources division. Tansey said BCCC has no money to pay for extending the water line.

Tansey said the new facility, the only one of its kind in northeastern North Carolina, would provide training for city firefighters, more so than firefighters from other areas throughout Beaufort County. Tansey reminded the council that city firefighter, police and other emergency-related personnel do not pay tuition for job-related training they receive at BCCC.

“So, we’re hoping you will find some kindness in your heart and help us get some water to our burn house,” she said.

The new center includes a burn room, confined space and rappelling station, which imitate experiences of real fires.

“When this … is fully set up, we can provide training that other areas cannot do,” Tansey said.

City Manager Bobby Roberson said he would not bring the council any related budget ordinance until “we have a firm number about the construction of the line, if the council wants to approve it.”