1997-04-30 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