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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-30 Work Session NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING WITH KURE BEACH TOWN COUNCIL APRIL 30, 1997 BOOK 25 PAGE 957 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners attended a breakfast meeting called by the Kure Beach Town Council on Wednesday, April 30, 1997, at 8:00 AM. in the Outrigger Restaurant, K Street, Kure Beach, 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 Kure Beach Town Council were: Mayor Betty Medlin, Councilman Bobby Theodore; Councilman Steve Bowman; Councilman Glen T. Ivey; Town Attorney, Andrew A Canoutas; and Town Clerk, Frances Jones. Mayor Medlin expressed appreciation to the Board for attending the breakfast meeting and asked Chairman Greer to explain the options being considered for providing sewer to the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area. Chairman Greer reported the Executive Committee of the Board of Health was highly concerned about the sewer discharge into ditches from malfunctioning septic tanks in the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area. The Executive Committee informed the Board of Health that some solution must be found to provide sewer service to this area to protect the public health of residents living in the area. He advised that County Staff had been studying the issue and had developed options for providing sewer to this unincorporated area of the county. He requested the Director of Finance, Bruce Shell, to explain the options. Finance Director Shell presented the following options: (1) Construction of the Sewer Lines by New Hanover County: The County would create the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area as a "special assessment area". Under this approach, the County would construct the sewer lines to the Wastewater Treatment Plants with interlocal agreements between the Town of Carolina Beach and Town ofKure Beach for management and operation of the sewer system. The residents would be customers of the beach municipalities with billing and collections handled by the beach communities. New Hanover County would be repaid by assessing each property owner living in the Hanby/Wilmington Beach a one-time special assessment of approximately $1,200. This assessment could be spread over a number of years and would be added to the property tax bill. (2) Annexation: Either the Town of Carolina Beach or the Town ofKure Beach could annex the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area. Financing could be obtained by the municipality, or the County could assist with financing the project through an interlocal agreement. Once water and sewer are provided to this area, there should be significant development and the value of land should greatly increase. Discussion was held on the provision of water to the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area. Chairman Greer advised that a private water company was providing water to the area. The Health Department has tested the water and found it safe to drink; therefore, it would be difficult for the County to take over a private water system. Town Councilman, Glen T. Ivey, asked if the County had performed a survey to determine if the residents were capable of paying the assessment. He advised that many of the residents in the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area were on fixed incomes and would not be capable of paying the assessment. Vice-Chairman Caster advised the assessment could be paid over a period offive to ten years, which should assist the residents financially. He stressed the importance of moving forward with a sewer project because of health concerns. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING WITH KURE BEACH TOWN COUNCIL APRIL 30, 1997 BOOK 25 PAGE 958 After a lengthy discussion on the 201 Facilities Plan stopping at the Snow's Cut bridge and the extra-territorial jurisdiction by the towns of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, Mayor Medlin stated the Kure Beach Town Council had not met to discuss the options for providing sewer to the Hanby/Wilmington Beach area. She commented on the need to provide the service and advised she felt the special assessment was the best approach. Chairman Greer advised the County needs to know what will be acceptable to the towns of Kure Beach and Carolina Beach so construction can begin on the project. He reported the next meeting of the Board of Health would be held on June 4, 1997, and he would like to present a plan for the provision of sewer to this area. He expressed concern for the area being closed by the Health Department if this public health problem is not resolved. Mayor Medlin advised that she would contact the Town of Carolina Beach about holding a meeting to discuss this issue. Chairman Greer reported the Board has scheduled a Work Session with the Town of Carolina Beach on Tuesday, May 6, 1997, at 4:00 P.M. in Room SOI of the County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. He urged both beach communities to meet and assist the County in moving forward with this project. In closing, Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to the Kure Beach Town Council for inviting the Board to attend the breakfast and stated it was enjoyed by all. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the Board