1995-10-12 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 12, 1995
BOOK 25
PAGE 53
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work
Session on Thursday, October 12, 1995, at 10:30 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
the purpose of the meeting was to discuss alternative revenue
sources for addressing infrastructure needs.
PRESENTATION ON ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES TO ADDRESS
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, commented on the
tremendous amount of growth in the County which has placed a demand
on services and facilities that have outstripped the ability of the
County to pay for these expansions. The significant costs
associated with growth are the need for additional school
facilities, recreational facilities, water and sewer, roads, and
drainage.
The following recommendations were presented and discussed:
1. Proposed Centralized County Water System: with urbanization
of the County, a central, public water system should be
considered since the Water & Sewer District has already
acquired several water systems. A centralized water system
would complement the operation of the sewer system and would
be relatively profitable.
A drinking water impact fee
assessed when the building
comparable to the impact
wilmington.
of $735 per household should be
permit is issued. This fee is
fee charged by the City of
All new subdivisions would be required to construct drinking
water distribution systems that would meet the following
requirements:
(a) Lines must be sized to handle fire flows regardless of
whether or not adequate elevated water storage is
available to provide the fire flows.
(b) Stubs must be provided on the water lines where fire
hydrants can be placed by the New Hanover County Fire
Service District so they will be ready to handle fire
flows when adequate elevated water storage becomes
available.
(c) Payment of $1,500 per fire hydrant stub to the Fire
Service District as required by the County Fire Marshal.
2. Expansion of the Sewer System: The typical costs for sewer
collection, transportation, and treatment is approximately
$3,716 to $4,016 per household. If the collection cost is
removed at $2,100, which is paid by the developer, the minimum
cost is still $1,700 per house. The County currently charges
an impact fee of $375 per household which generates $400,000
of revenue per year.
The following revenues scenarios were presented based on three
levels of sewer impact fees calculated on 1,300 units per
year:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 12, 1995
BOOK 25
PAGE 54
Impact Fee Per Household
$ 735
$1,100
$1,500
Revenue Generated
$1,000,000
$1,400,000
$2,000,000
Discussion was held on implementing a stormwater management
plan. It was generally agreed that in order to address this item,
a projected cost would have to be determined. Further discussion
was held on the City's stormwater management plan. Assistant
County Manager Weaver advised that the City of wilmington charges
fees based on the size of the facility needed to serve each
development. The City ordinance requires all developed land to
have adequate stormwater facilities to retain the natural rate of
flow at pre-development levels. Several options are offered to
developers for compliance. The developers not served by existing
stormwater systems are required to design and build their own
systems according to the City's Manual of Technical Specifications.
Plans for these systems must be submitted as part of the permit
application. These permits are reviewed by the City's Engineering
Staff and a fee is charged for the review. In circumstances where
a new development would be served by an existing stormwater
facility, developers are required to reimburse the City an amount
equal to the cost of providing an acceptable facility.
Discussion was held on the possibility of establishing a
stormwater utility. Assistant County Manager Weaver reported some
communities create a stormwater utility to carry out the stormwater
management plan. Rates vary across the country with a high of $108
annually per single family residence in Sacramento, California, to
a low of $2.88 annually per single family residence in St. Louis,
Missouri. Typical rates across the country range from $24 to $45
annually. Charlotte charges a fee per household based on the square
footage of each house. Charges range from $2.22 per month ($26.64
per year) for houses under 2,000 square feet to $2.92 per month
($35.04 per year) for houses over 2,000 square feet.
Chairman Greer recommended hiring a consultant to perform a
study of the drainage issue and present a report reflecting the
cost and best options available for implementing a stormwater
management plan.
Discussion was held on moving forward with the water and sewer
expansions. Chairman Greer advised that the County should consider
the areas that are going to be annexed by the City. He stated, in
his opinion, it would be foolish to incur additional expenses for
water and sewer when many of the areas will be annexed within two
years.
County Manager 0' Neal advised that one al ternati ve to consider
would be for the City and County to seriously discuss the
possibility of developing collectively a comprehensive Water and
Sewer Authority.
Commissioner Barone advised that a Water and Sewer Authority
was already in place. She reported the Lower Cape Fear Water and
Sewer Authority would be glad to work with the City and County in
developing an authority.
After further discussion, the County Manager was requested to
prepare a request for proposals on the performance of a county-wide
stormwater management plan with a more detailed analysis on one
basin; prepare a proposal for increasing the sewer impact fee to
$735 plus the $1,500 fee for fire hydrants, and prepare a proposal
for charging a drinking water impact fee.
DISCUSSION OF EXPANDING THE SEWER SYSTEM SOUTH OF MONKEY JUNCTION
Assistant County Manager Weaver presented a map showing where
the expansion of the sewer system south of Monkey Junction would be
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 12, 1995
BOOK 25
PAGE 55
located. He informed the Board that the cost of the project was
approximately $1.6 million which could be financed through
Certificates of Participation. He reported an item to consider was
the amount of developable acres within the Motts Creek Basin.
Staff estimates there will be approximately 1,700 vacant
developable acres which should create 4,250 potential units to be
served by the proposed sewer expansion. After review of the
project, Staff recommends consideration of the following action:
(1) charge a transportation fee, in addition to the existing impact
fee, at a cost of $1,000 per acre of developable land; or (2)
charge $450 per household at the time the building permit is
issued.
The following revenue scenarios were presented on the Motts
Creek Basin:
$1,000 per acre transportation fee
$ 450 per unit transportation fee
$1,700,000
$1,900,000
If the County decides to expand the sewer system south of
Monkey Junction, the transportation fee would be charged for only
ten years because this portion of the sewer system was not to be
completed until the year 2006 as outlined in the Master Plan. Any
property developed after the 10-year period would not be required
to pay a transportation fee.
Discussion was held on shifting priorities in the Master Plan.
Commissioner Sisson expressed concern for changing the priority
listing in the Master Plan and he reminded the Commissioners that
persons living in the northern end of the County have been paying
sewer impact fees and the debt service of the sewer system since
the original bond issue. He cautioned altering the priorities as
outlined in the Master Plan.
Chairman Greer reminded the Board that the offer being made by
the private sector would save the County money by not having to
build a temporary pump station that would not be usable within two
or three years.
Discussion was held on whether enough development would occur
south of Monkey Junction to pay for the $1.6 million sewer
extension proj ect. Mr. Dan Dawson, representing the private
developers, commented on the last feasibility study performed in
June, 1990, and reported the plan called for completion of the
interceptor on River Road by June, 1996; however, due to a lack of
funds, this time schedule was not possible. He reported with the
growth occurring in the southern end of the County, he felt the
demand would be strong enough to generate the necessary funds to
pay for the $1.6 million sewer expansion project. He emphasized
the importance of providing an incentive for development and
reminded the Commissioners that the density factor of 2.5 units per
acre was not a fixed figure because one developer had already
planned to request a density factor of 10.2 units per acre, which
would increase the amount of revenue generated to the County.
Ms. Janet Durham, President of the League of Women Voters,
reported many citizens who have relocated to the County within the
last ten years are very concerned about the rapid development that
continues to occur. This growth has created drainage problems,
traffic problems, and the need to expand all services, which has
become quite costly to the taxpayers. She emphasized the
importance of controlled growth and stated this will be a key issue
during the 1996 election for members to serve on the Board of
County Commissioners.
Mr. Terry Turner, a local builder, reported approximately 50%
of the homes constructed in the Monkey Junction area had been sold
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 12, 1995
BOOK 25
PAGE 56
to retirees because the area was desirable and had the necessary
commercial services readily available. He advised the Board that
expansion of the sewer south of Monkey Junction should not create
an additional burden on the school system.
Consensus:
the issues
the County
6, 1995.
After further discussion of the need to address all of
discussed, it was the consensus of the Board to direct
Manager to place these items on the agenda for November
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to all persons present
and adjourned the meeting at 11:50 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board