2002-04-15 Water & Sewer Distri
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD BOOK 2
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 15, 2002PAGE 720
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District
met in Regular Session on Monday, April 15, 2002, at 12.36 P.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 public 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 of April 1, 2002.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman, to
approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on April 1, 2002, as presented by the Clerk to the
District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
REQUEST FOR SEWER EXPANSION FROM THE CREEKSTONE COMMUNITY
Chairman Greer asked if anyone from the Creekstone Community would like to speak on the
sewer expansion request.
Mr. Gary W. Ahlberg, a resident of 207 Plumtree Lane representing the Creekstone
Subdivision, referenced the information presented at the last meeting and stated that the neighbors
have met to discuss an alternative proposal for providing sewer to the entire community. He advised
that based on comments at the last meeting, it was difficult to believe that extending the sewer line
down Plumtree Lane would negatively impact the Jail contingency account. This is not a request for
sewer services, but a request for the District to provide sewer service to an existing community
impacted by the construction of the Jail.
Mr. Ahlberg presented an alternative proposal to extend the sewer line down Plumtree Lane
to every house except the last property owner at the end of the street who is not interested in
connecting to the sewer system. The residents feel that funding should come from the Jail
contingency account and no tap fees should be charged. With a contractor already on the site, this
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD BOOK 2
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 15, 2002PAGE 721
is the most logical, fair, and cost-effective way to provide sewer infrastructure to a community
impacted by a county construction project that will only increase existing drainage problems.
District Commissioner Caster asked Mr. Ahlberg why the residents of Creekstone did not
come up with an alternative to collectively pay for the sewer line extension.
Mr. Ahlberg responded that a proposal of this type would not have been a workable solution
to the residents because they feel this community was in existence before the County decided to build
the Jail on the Blue Clay Road site.
District Commissioner Caster responded that extending sewer to Plumtree Lane was not part
of the original Jail Construction project. If the Creekstone Subdivision had been developed with
sewer provided to the area, the property owners would have paid for the sewer line when purchasing
their homes. With a choice of running the sewer line down Creekstone Lane or Plumtree Lane, the
residents should all share in the cost of providing sewer to the entire subdivision.
Motion:
After further discussion, District Commissioner Davis MOVED not to use the Jail
contingency fund and provide sewer to this area pursuant to the guidelines of the Water and Sewer
District with the homeowners paying the applicable fees.
Chairman Greer asked District Commissioner Davis if his motion was to provide sewer to
Plumtree Lane with money from the Water and Sewer Fund and charge residents on Creekstone Lane
and Plumtree Lane the tap fees being charged at the time of connection.
Discussion was held on when the new tap fees would be implemented. Chairman Greer
advised that the new tap fees would be implemented on January 1, 2003, but sewer will be available
to the Creekstone Subdivision before this date, which means the old fees will be charged.
District Commissioner Davis WITHDREW THE MOTION and requested an explanation of
the normal procedure followed when a community approaches the District about extending a sewer
line.
Chairman Greer explained that this was an unusual request because normally a sewer line
would not be running down a road in a subdivision. However, in areas where a sewer line is being
constructed and a nearby community with distressed septic systems requests extension of the sewer,
the District usually extends the sewer line with the current tap fees being charged.
District Commissioner Davis asked who would pay for constructing the sewer line.
County Engineer Blanchard responded that the District would pay for extending the line with
payment of the current tap fees or an agreed upon fee by the residents.
Discussion followed on changing the effective date of when the increased tap fees will be
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD BOOK 2
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 15, 2002PAGE 722
implemented. County Attorney Copley advised that since the first reading of the ordinance has been
held, it would be necessary for the District to advertise the change of date before holding the second
reading.
Chairman Greer requested direction from the Board.
Motion:
After a lengthy discussion, Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by Chairman
Greer, to construct the sewer line and charge the residents the current tap fee and an assessment of
$1,100.
District Commissioner Boseman asked Mr. Ahlberg if the residents were willing to pay the
$2,000.
Mr. Ahlberg responded that the residents would prefer to be exempt from the fees but if
necessary, they would pay the $2,000 fee.
Chairman Greer called for a vote. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS ACCEPTING THE PUBLIC
DEDICATION OF GREENVIEW RANCHES RIGHTS-OF-WAY, AREA A, AND MIDDLE
SOUND RIGHTS-OF-WAY, AREA B FOR SEWER AND/OR WATER UTILITIES
County Engineer Blanchard reported that in Area A, the County is working with a private
developer who plans to run sewer lines within one or more of the platted rights-of-way shown on a
recorded map for the Greenview Ranches Subdivision. The rights-of-way were not originally deeded
to the District. The rights-of-way are platted and offered for public acceptance. Attached is a
document accepting the rights-of-ways for sewer and/or water utility and other public purposes, at
the discretion of the District Board.
In Area B, the County plans to run a sewer line down numerous platted rights-of-way and
easements in the Middle Sound Area. This is the first group of rights-of-way and easements in this
area that the County will present for acceptance. This group contains roads and easements within
the Buena Vista, North Bend, Ocean View and Glen Arbor Subdivisions. The rights-of-way and
easements are platted and offered for public acceptance. Attached is a document accepting the
rights-of-way and easements for sewer and/or water utility and other public purposes, at the
discretion of the District.
Staff recommends adoption of the resolutions to accept the rights-of-way and easements.
Motion:
District Commissioner Boseman MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster,
to adopt the two resolutions accepting the rights-of-way and easements for sewer and/or water
utilities in Greenview Ranches, Area A, and Middle Sound, Area B. The Chairman was authorized
to execute the necessary documents. Upon vote the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD BOOK 2
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 15, 2002PAGE 723
Copies of the resolutions are hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and are contained
in W&S Exhibit Book II, Page 34.
CONSIDERATION OF REDUCING WASTEWATER IMPACT AND DEVELOPMENT
FEES FOR LADY OF AMERICA, 5226 SOUTH COLLEGE ROAD
County Engineer Wyatt Blanchard reported that a request was presented to the
Commissioners on October 15, 2001, asking that consideration be given to reducing the amount of
the wastewater impact and development fee paid by the Lady of America Fitness Center located in
a shopping center at Monkey Junction. It was decided to delay a decision until there was at least one
year of history on sewer usage for the business.
The Lady of America Fitness Center has now been in operation for over a year and during that
year, the average water consumption has been just over 116 gallons per day, which is less than
one-half of the usage of a home. The low usage is apparently due to the fact that no shower facilities
are available at the facility.
Based on the water use and information provided, it does not appear that a facility without
showers will have a sufficient impact on the sewer system; therefore, Staff is recommending
consideration of a usage figure of three (3) gallons per day per member for fitness centers without
showers rather than ten (10) gallons per day. Using three gallons for 100 members per day will yield
a total impact and development fee of $1,575. The original fee was $19,600, which was based on
available criteria at the time of application. Staff recommends approving a fee of $1,575 with a
refund of $17,925 to the Lady of America Fitness Center.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman, to
approve a fee of $1,575 and grant a refund of $17,925 to the Lady of America Fitness Center subject
to the fee being reassessed if the water usage increases. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett,
to adjourn the meeting. Upon vote the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 12:09 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board