1997-05-06 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION WITH TOWN OF CAROLINA BEACH
MAY 6, 1997
BOOK 25
PAGE 981
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session with the Carolina
Beach Town Council on Tuesday, May 6, 1997, at 4:00 P.M. in Room 501 of the New Hanover
County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Buzz Birzenieks, Ted Davis, Jr.; Charles R. Howell;
Vice-Chairman William A. Caster; Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen O'Neal;
County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Members present from the Carolina Beach Town Council were: Mayor Anthony Loreti;
Council members Pat Efird; Joel A. Macon; Rick Burroughs; Kim Roberts; Town Manager, George
Rose; and Town Clerk, Lona Thompson.
The Mayor ofKure Beach, Betty Medlin, attended the meeting.
Chairman Greer welcomed everyone present and called the Work Session to order. He stated
the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the provision of sewer to the HanbylWilmington Beach
area.
Mayor Loreti reported the expansion of the Carolina Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant
would be completed by the end of September or October 1997 with an additional capacity of3 million
gallons per day. He commented on the concerns of the New Hanover County Health Department
about the levels offecal coliform in the HanbylWilmington Beach area and stated at the joint Work
Session held on January 21, 1997, discussion was held with the Commissioners about the options for
providing sewer to the area. It was generally agreed that allowing the County to construct the sewer
lines with treatment of the sewer by the Town of Carolina Beach would be better than annexation
which will take approximately two years.
Chairman Greer advised since the joint Work Session, the Board of County Commissioners
had met with the Kure Beach Town Council. Discussion was held on whether the Kure Beach Town
Council would prefer to annex a portion ofthe HanbylWilmington Beach area or allow New Hanover
County to construct the sewer lines and impose a special assessment to the property owners. At the
meeting, concern was expressed about the residents in the area being able to pay the estimated $1,200
special assessment since many of the property owners were living on fixed incomes.
Mayor Betty Medlin stated the Kure Beach Town Council would be meeting next week to
discuss this issue.
Mayor Loreti stressed the importance of focusing on health concerns which could result in
closing this area and recommended moving forward with allowing the County to pay for installation
of the sewer lines with interlocal agreements executed for treatment of the sewer between New
Hanover County and the beach communities.
Chairman Greer responded if both beach communities are in agreement, the Board would
place this item on a regular agenda and authorize the County Staff to proceed with determining the
exact cost for installing the sewer lines, prepare interlocal agreements with the beach communities
for treatment and operation of the sewer system, and develop a plan for the special assessment tax
levy to the property owners.
Further discussion was held on the preparation ofinterlocal agreements. Mayor Loreti advised
that extra-territorial jurisdiction agreements would have to be prepared to allow Kure
Beach and Carolina Beach to treat the sewer and bill the customers. Also, tap fees would have to be
included in the agreements.
Chairman Greer reported in order for New Hanover County to finance the construction
project, the sewer system would serve as collateral for the loan; therefore, it would be owned by New
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION WITH TOWN OF CAROLINA BEACH
MAY 6, 1997
BOOK 25
PAGE 982
Hanover County until the loan was paid, or the beach communities annexed the area and acquired the
sewer system.
Further discussion was held on the special assessment to property owners living in the
HanbylWilmington Beach area. Chairman Greer advised the County has authority to extend the
$1,200 assessment over a period often years which would be a tax levy of$150 per year per property
owner.
Motion: After further discussion, Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner
Birzenieks to move forward with the sewer construction project in the HanbylWilmington Beach with
authorization for the County Staff to work with members of staff from the Town of Carolina Beach
and Kure Beach to prepare interlocal agreements and work out the details associated with the project.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
County Manager O'Neal reported it would take time to work out the details and advised Staff
would place this item on the June 16, 1997, agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to elected officials of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach
for working with the County to address this need.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board