2003-02-17 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2003PAGE 4
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular
Session on Monday, February 17, 2003, at 11:31 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse,
24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Nancy H. Pritchett; District Commissioner
Julia Boseman; District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; District Commissioner William A. Caster; County Manager,
Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the District Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Greer announced that time had been reserved for anyone from the audience to present an item that
was not listed on the Regular Agenda. He requested all persons to limit their remarks to three minutes.
No items were presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Greer called for a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster, to approve the minutes
of the Regular Meeting held on February 3, 2003, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
STATUS REPORT ON THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CITY-COUNTY COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
STUDY MERGING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES
Chairman Greer reported that he, Vice-Chairman Pritchett, City Council Member Laura Padgett and City
Council Member Jason Thompson met on Friday, February 14, 2003, to hold the first meeting of the Water and Sewer
Committee to discuss combining City and County water and sewer services. Others attending the meeting were County
Finance Director Bruce Shell and City Finance Director Brent McAbee. The Finance Officers presented information
and a good discussion was held among the members of the group; however, there were two obstacles of concern to the
Council Members:
1.Concern about the County’s Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund being subsidized by proceeds from the sales
tax.
2.Concern about appointing an entity other than the City to operate a combined Water and Sewer System.
Chairman Greer explained that the Board is willing to give up its control over County water and sewer
services to a separate entity, but the City Council is not willing to consider this option. The Council would like for the
Board to turn over the County’s water and sewer operation to the City. Unfortunately an impasse was reached at this
point, and it was decided that another meeting of the committee should not be scheduled.
Commissioner Caster spoke on the need to move forward with combining water and sewer services and asked
if anything could be done to reach an agreement.
Chairman Greer responded that he felt nothing could be done until the City is willing to consider allowing
a separate entity to operate a combined water and sewer system.
District Commissioner Boseman advised that she did not have a problem with the City operating a combined
water and sewer service, and stated if this should happen, the County should receive something in exchange, such as
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2003PAGE 5
control over law enforcement.
Chairman Greer responded that no discussion was held on combining other functions.
District Commissioner Davis commented on the difference between controlling and operating a system and
expressed concern for allowing the City to control growth in the unincorporated county. He stated that he was in favor
a combined water and sewer operation under an independent non-political entity.
STATUS REPORT ON THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CITY-COUNTY COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
District Commissioner Davis reported that he, Mayor Harper Peterson, Council Member Jim Quinn, and
Vice-Chairman Pritchett met on Thursday, February 13, 2003. Others present were County Attorney Wanda M.
Copley, City Attorney Tom Pollard, and City Clerk Penelope Spicer-Sidbury. Discussion was held on the number of
people that should be appointed to serve on the Consolidation Study Commission and changes were made to the
Request for Participation to recruit applicants. Further discussion was held on the concurrent resolution to be adopted
by both governing bodies with a period of questions and answers. Another meeting was tentatively scheduled on
Thursday, February 27, 2003.
In closing, District Commissioner Davis stated that it was difficult to understand why the Council Members
were so concerned about the County’s debt and the transfer of a small portion of the sales tax to subsidize the County’s
Water and Sewer operation when the City has annexed areas that are served by the county system. This action has
saved a significant amount of money for the City. He also expressed concern for reaching an impasse on combining
water and sewer services and questioned how both governing bodies will ever reach an agreement on a consolidation
plan to present to the voters. He stated that he felt it would be wrong to spend time and money to appoint a
Consolidation Study Commission to prepare a consolidation plan that may never be agreed upon by both governing
bodies.
District Commissioner Caster stated that it was discouraging to be controlled by these obstacles when trying
to merge water and sewer services. He urged the Board to continue the consolidation process because if the
consolidation plan is approved by the voters in the November 2004 election, there will be one government to control
and operate water and sewer services.
After further discussion, District Commissioner Caster requested District Commissioner Davis to discuss the
water and sewer issue at the next meeting with Mayor Peterson and Council Member Quinn.
District Commissioner Davis responded that he would discuss this issue at the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further comments, Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman, to adjourn the
meeting. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board