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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-14 Work Session NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 14, 1995 BOOK 25 PAGE 22 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session on September 14, 1995, at 10:15 A.M. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; William A. Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.; Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen O'Neal; County At torney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Chairman Greer called the Work Session to order and reported that Mr. Dean Potter, representing the wilmington Home Builders Association and the N. C. Home Builders Association, had requested a few minutes to update the Board on the moisture problems being experienced with stucco in the area. Mr. Potter expressed appreciation to the Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, and Acting Director of Inspections, Allen Golden, for the cooperative manner in which they have worked with the home builders to address the stucco problems being experienced throughout New Hanover County. He advised the Board that a report should be received wi thin the next few days from the Research Department of the National Association of Home Builders regarding the inspections performed two weeks ago. Also, the manufacturers of the stucco and inspectors from the N. C. Department of Insurance are in town and will continue to work toward identifying why these moisture problems have occurred. Once the final information is received, the Board will be informed of the findings. Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to Mr. Potter for the status report. Chairman Greer requested the Board to consider devoting the entire Work Session to expansion of the County Sewer System instead of trying to discuss the other infrastructure needs at one meeting. After discussion, it was agreed to focus on the expansion of the Sewer System in the Monkey Junction area. PRESENTATION ON EXPANSION OF THE COUNTY SEWER SYSTEM Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, presented a map showing the existing force mains, major gravity lines, existing pump stations as well as proposed force mains and gravity lines. After numerous meetings with the developers, Staff and the developers have selected Option III as the best way to proceed with expanding the sewer in the Monkey Junction area. Option III would speed up implementation of the Master Plan and require construction of a pump station near Mott's Creek with extension of the gravity line to the pump station and construction of a force main to the Barnard's Creek pump station. The project would cost approximately $1.6 million and would serve the development south of the Monkey Junction area as indicated in the Master Plan. According to the original Master Plan, this area would not have been served until the year 2008, and the project would have included a plan for construction of a collection system within Area 2 to serve existing development for a total estimated cost of $10.5 million. However, if the Board decides to proceed with Option III and construct the main interceptor and pump station at an estimated cost of $1.6 million, the construction of the collection system can be delayed to a later date. If Option III is approved, the following items should be considered: NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 14, 1995 BOOK 25 PAGE 23 (1) Does the County want to pursue a strategy for construction of the interceptor and main trunk line around the County with the construction of collection systems at a later date? (2) Does the Board want to shift this basin ahead of the other proj ects in the Master Plan in order to respond to the pressure of development in the Monkey Junction area? (3) Could the $1.6 million required to construct this project be better used for another project, such as a groundwater drinking water system? (4) If the governments consolidate, the new government may wish to change priorities. Assistant County Manager Weaver reported after review by the Finance Department, the following options for financing the $1.6 million project can be considered: (1) Use the Water and Sewer Fund balance for construction of the project. (2) Finance the project through the $19,000,000 Certificates of Participation issue already authorized by the County. (3) Increase the sewer impact fee from $375 to $735, which is equivalent to the impact fee charged by the City. (4) Establish a special transportation fee for the Mott's Creek area to be implemented in one of two ways: (a) allow the developer to pay an additional $1,000 per acre on the undeveloped vacant land; or (b) allow the developer to pay $450 per lot when the land is actually developed. If the impact fee is increased and a transportation fee is implemented, the revenues generated from the fees should pay for the project. Chairman Greer requested an explanation of the difference between an impact fee and transportation fee? Assistant County Manager Weaver explained that the existing $375 per house impact fee is paid at the time the building permit is issued. The revenues collected from impact fees are placed in an escrow account to pay for the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. A transportation fee of $450 per house would be implemented to pay for speeding up the construction of the interceptor and pump station in an area. This fee would be paid at the time the building permit is issued. Chairman Greer questioned whether it would be fair to charge some developers a transportation fee, and not others? Assistant County Manager Weaver responded the Board could consider "not" charging a transportation fee to persons who wait to develop their land until the year 2008 as outlined in the Master Plan. This would allow developers to decide if they are willing to speed up the system and pay the transportation fee or wait until sewer is expanded into the area as originally planned in the Master Plan. Commissioner Sisson expressed concern for continually shifting the phases of the Master Plan, which does not allow time for the County to plan for other infrastructure needs that will be needed to accommodate the growth in these areas when the sewer becomes available. He, also, expressed concern for persons, such as the residents of the Castle Hayne area, who have been paying impact fees for years without receiving the sewer service. Is it fair to develop another area before considering these residents? He NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 14, 1995 BOOK 25 PAGE 24 cautioned not following an orderly progression of the sewer expansion as outlined in the Master Plan. vice-Chairman Mathews advised that if the developers are willing to participate in funding the Mott's Creek construction project, then he has no problem with shifting the phases. Discussion was held on the complexity of the many issues involved with expanding the Water and Sewer System and the overwhelming responsibilities that have been placed on the County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard. Chairman Greer commended the County Engineer for performing an excellent job with the increased growth and recommended re-assigning some of his responsibilities to other members of Staff in order to relieve the workload of the County Engineer. He reported this would provide for increased supervision of the water and sewer projects as well as more evenly spread the duties of the department. He asked the County Engineer if he had a problem with this recommendation? County Engineer Blanchard responded that he had no problem with receiving some assistance. County Manager O'Neal agreed and reported with the purchase of numerous water and sewer systems, the current staffing in the Water and Sewer Department cannot meet the daily demands. He reported the department could be reorganized; however, he felt additional employees would be needed. Chairman Greer explained that it may not be necessary to hire any additional employees; however, as the County continues to grow and new lines are installed, it is impossible for the County Engineer to handle all aspects of operation, maintenance, and construction of the water and sewer systems. In his opinion, the duties should be more evenly spread in order to be sure all areas are covered when constructing the new lines. Commissioner Barone stated the County Engineer was handling as many proj ects as possible for one person, and stated, in her opinion, a highly-qualified engineer with sewer line building experience was needed to assist the County Engineer with management of the various projects. Assistant County Manager Weaver agreed with the need to provide some assistance to the County Engineer and reported he did not know how he had handled so many different items at one time. Commissioner Sisson commented on the need to address septage disposal, stormwater drainage, and fire service, as well as the impact on schools, with the continued growth in the County and suggested developing a schedule for discussion of these issues and revenue options available to fund these major infrastructure needs. Chairman Greer agreed and stated, in his opinion, the residents of New Hanover County should not have to dig into their pockets to spend money every time a new resident moves into the County. He stressed the importance of implementing a system that will require new residents to pay a fair share of the costs involved with development, and reported, in his opinion, the impact fees can be increased and a transportation fee can be implemented. After further discussion, Staff was requested to prepare the following information for the next Work Session: (1) scenarios on advance payments for undeveloped land with percentage discounts reflecting the actual figures, and calculations for increasing the impact fees and implementing a transportation fee for expansion of the Sewer System; (2) revenue options for financing the sewer expansions; (3) recommendations on stormwater drainage as well as a review of the City's current stormwater policy; and (4) recommendations on charging an impact fee on drinking water with a review of the City's impact fee on drinking water. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 14, 1995 BOOK 25 PAGE 25 Chairman Greer requested Staff to meet with the developers to be sure the recommendations presented would be feasible. Consensus: After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to schedule another Work Session on Thursday, October 12, 1995, at 10:00 A.M. in Room 501 of the County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. Dan Dawson, an engineer representing the developers, reported two developers were willing to pay for upgrading the pump station and extending the force mains in order to provide sewer capacity for their developments plus an additional 60,000 gallons per day to the Monkey Junction area. He advised the Board that the contractor was in the process of starting the project; therefore, it was an ideal time to amend the contract and begin construction of the interceptor as outlined in the Master Plan and utilize the money being offered by the private sector. He emphasized the importance of time to the developers and urged the Commissioners to move forward with a decision. Chairman Greer recommended preparing an agenda item to remove the work component of the contract with Blackmon Construction Company dealing with construction of the pump station and force main, and add a component to the contract for the construction of the Mott's Creek interceptor, pump station, and River Road force main in accordance with the Master Plan in order to take advantage of the developers' willingness to contribute upfront funds for the project. Assistant County Manager Weaver reported an additional item would be prepared for the Board to consider at its regular meeting of the Water and Sewer District on September 18, 1995. Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:15 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the Board