Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-06 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