1995-09-14 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