2003-08-18 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 18, 2003PAGE 33
ASSEMBLY
The District Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on
Monday, August 18, 2003, at 5:51 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third
Street, Wilmington, N. C.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Nancy H. Pritchett; District Commissioner
Julia Boseman; District Commissioner William A. Caster; District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; County Manager, Allen
O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the District Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Greer announced that time had been reserved to allow 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.
STATUS REPORT ON THE JOINT CITY-COUNTY EXPANSION OF THE NORTHSIDE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT
County Engineer Wyatt Blanchard reported that Mr. Alex Monroe, a consultant with McKim & Creed, would
present a status report on the joint City/County expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant (NSWTP).
Mr. Monroe presented a report on the progress made from the beginning of the expansion project in 1999
through the current date. He advised that all plans and contract documents were completed and submitted to various state
and federal permitting agencies in November 2001 and stated as of this date no comments have been received. Two
attempts have been made to submit the Environmental Assessment to receive a Finding of No Significant Impact, which
means that all regulatory agencies have reviewed the project and found no significant impacts on the environment. The
Environmental Assessment has been sent back several times because the City and County have been battling to maintain
the existing 15 BOD 10 Ammonia (15/10) limit in the Cape Fear Water Basin instead of the 5 BOD 1 Ammonia (5/1)
limit desired by the N. C. Division of Water Quality.
An extensive water quality model was prepared and it showed that the 15/10 limit would meet the planned
effluent and the 5/1 limit was not needed. There was no sufficient evidence shown by the N. C. Water Quality Division
to support a 5/1 limit. The City and County could have agreed to the 5/1 limit, but if the effluent limit should be reduced
in the future, the cost of the technology and equipment would greatly increase, and another expansion would cost much
more than the current expansion estimated at $55 million to $56 million. The City and County Staff are comfortable with
the 15/10 limit in terms of treatment, and an effort is being made to get the agencies to agree to tie the Total Mass Daily
Load (TMDL) to the permitted limit.
Mr. Monroe reported that after numerous meetings and negotiations, it is felt that the Environmental
Assessment will be reviewed by the various permitting agencies in the near future. The inability to obtain the assessment
had delayed the project.
Chairman Greer suggested preparing a letter to the local legislators to see if they can assist the City and County
in speeding up the process. He expressed concern for the length of time taken to permit the expansion.
Mr. Monroe responded that a letter to the legislators may not be a good idea because of the River Basin Policy
Plan adopted by the State. The City cannot jeopardize its water allocation because the State determines the amount of
water that the City can draw from the Cape Fear Water Basin.
Chairman Greer spoke on working 10 years with the City to expand the NSWTP and asked what would happen
in a year, if the County had to stop construction of new homes and prohibit the location of new industry into the area
because there is not sufficient capacity left in the NSWTP to provide sewer allocations to the unincorporated county.
Mr. Monroe responded that development will not be stopped because the developers will build package treatment
plants, and the State will have no choice but to issue permits for the treatment plants if all requirements and conditions
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 18, 2003PAGE 34
have been met. In the last two years, 22 package treatment plants from the waterway at Topsail Beach to the Cape Fear
River at Wilmington have been taken off line which has greatly improved the quality of water in the river. Many of the
shellfish beds are beginning to come back, but the City and County have not received any credit for removing these
plants. Once the TMDL is started, the permitting process will move forward and construction on the expansion should
begin in the early summer of 2004.
Chairman Greer strongly objected to the length of time involved in the permitting process and spoke on the
amount of money already paid by the taxpayers during the last six years for water quality tests, engineering services and
permitting fees. He stated that it was not right for the taxpayers to continue to pay these fees, and he suggested meeting
with the Governor or appropriate State officials to speed up the permitting process so construction can begin on the
NSWTP expansion.
Mr. Monroe responded that two separate trips have been made to Raleigh to discuss permitting issues with the
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the City has written several letters. An
environmental attorney was hired to speed up the process, and the point has been reached where the various agencies will
review the Environmental Assessment which has been a stumbling block since 2001. The documentation is voluminous
and more information is requested. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the project with numerous meetings
being held with State agencies. It is important to remember that these regulations are mandated by State Law.
In further discussion, the Board agreed to request the County Manager to meet with the City Manager to discuss
scheduling a meeting with the local legislators, Board of County Commissioners, City Council, and the engineering team
to discuss the delays and problems being experienced with the NSWTP expansion.
County Manager O’Neal advised that he would be glad to discuss this issue with City Manager Cheatham and
report back to the Board.
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to Mr. Monroe for the report.
APPROVAL OF CONTRACT TO PURCHASE A SITE FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
County Engineer Blanchard reported that Staff has been working to find an 8-acre site for the District to
construct a Water Treatment Plant northeast of Ogden. He presented a map showing a 46.4 acre tract located at 7601
Oak Road recently released by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. He advised that the owner would not sell a portion
of the tract but has offered a price of $1,075,000 for the entire tract which equates to $23,169 per acre. The land has
a minor amount of wetlands, and even though the District does not need 46.4 acres, the remaining land can be used for
other County purposes.
County Engineer Blanchard advised that if the District Board is interested in purchasing the land, the agreement
calls for a $10,000 deposit, and the offer will remain in effect until October 20, 2003 to determine if the land can be used.
District Commissioner Davis asked if the property could not be used, would the $10,000 deposit be refunded
to the District.
Mr. Phil Trice, a realtor working on behalf of the District, advised that if the District should determine the
property cannot be used by October 20, 2003 the entire deposit will be returned.
Chairman Greer requested direction from the District Board.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster, to enter into a contract to
purchase 46.4 acres of land located at 7601 Old Oak Road for $1,075,000 to be used as the site for the Water Treatment
Plant, approve earnest money in the amount of $10,000 with the money being returned if the land cannot be used by
October 20, 2003 and authorize the Chairman to execute the necessary contract documents. Upon vote, the motion
carried 4 to 1. District Commissioner Boseman voted in opposition.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 18, 2003PAGE 35
A copy of the contract is on file in the Legal Department.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Discussion of Poor Construction Work on Installation of Water and Sewer Lines in Churchill Estates
Commissioner Caster advised that he had received numerous e-mails from residents concerned about the quality
of work being performed by contractors installing water and sewer lines in Churchill Estates and the Middle Sound area.
He requested Staff to comment on this issue.
County Engineer Blanchard explained that Staff was aware of the problems and stated that meetings have been
scheduled with the contractors to resolve this matter.
Chairman Greer advised that Staff was in the process of correcting the situation.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman, to adjourn. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 6:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board