2001-02-19 Water & Sewer Distri
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 19, 2001PAGE 620
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District
met in Regular Session on Monday, February 19, 2001, at 11:51 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 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
Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Greer announced that time had been reserved to allow the public to present an item
that was not listed on the Regular Agenda. He requested all persons speaking to limit their remarks
to three minutes.
Mr. Henry Ray Beaty, a resident of 5314 Lord Tennyson Drive, reported that he purchased
his home in Kings Grant in 1971. Since that time, he has removed four trees, added a drain line, and
pumped out his septic tank eleven times to alleviate his drainage and septic tank problems. Due to
septic tank failures, functions such as showers, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and accommodating
clients for his wife’s alterations business have to be alternated in order to flush toilets. The lack of
sewer in this area has become a sanitation issue for many residents, and if his problems continue, a
Rent-A-John will have to be placed on his property.
In closing, Mr. Beaty stated that after traveling around the world four times, it was difficult
to believe that living in a state-of-the-art nation, unsanitary septic conditions could exist in a
community like Kings Grant. If New Hanover County cannot provide sewer services to people who
have lived in subdivisions for years, why should new subdivisions be approved with the availability
of sewer. He urged the District Board to help the residents in Kings Grant resolve their drainage and
sewer problems.
Chairman Greer apologized to Mr. Beaty for the existing conditions in Kings Grant and stated
that the District is moving as quickly as possible to resolve this problem. Staff is in the process of
hiring engineering firms to design and expand the City’s Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant so
sewer capacity will be available to provide sewer to Kings Grant and other areas in need of the
service.
District Commissioner Davis asked Mr. Beaty if he or any residents of Kings Grant would be
willing to approach the City of Wilmington about annexing this area so water and sewer services can
be provided.
Mr. Beaty responded that he was not a politician and did not understand what annexation
would entail. He also informed the Board that many of the septic tank failures being experienced
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 19, 2001PAGE 621
were because of inadequate drainage in the Kings Grant community.
District Commissioner Boseman asked County Manager O’Neal if there was any way to speed
up the process for Kings Grant.
County Manager O’Neal responded that it would not be possible to speed up the project
because time is required to design the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion as well as
treatment requirements involved in the construction process. He also requested Mr. Beaty to meet
with Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver to set up a time for Staff to visit and review the
drainage problems in Kings Grant to see if assistance can be provided to resolve this problem.
District Commissioner Davis suggested that the District should proceed with the necessary
measures to have lines installed in Kings Grant so sewer can be provided when the Northside
Wastewater Treatment Plant is expanded.
Ms. Betty Scott, a resident of Kings Grant, informed the District Board that drainage had
always been a problem in the Kings Grant. She expressed concern for the City and County agreeing
to solve water and sewer problems in Pender County, but not being able to agree on how to correct
a serious sanitation problem in Kings Grant.
Chairman Greer informed Ms. Scott that the County has met with the City numerous times
for the past six years to discuss merging water and sewer services. A resolution was adopted by both
local governments to establish an independent body to provide these services, but no agreement has
ever been reached. To hear residents say that the District Board is not doing anything to correct the
sewer problems throughout the unincorporated county is not correct. Every effort has been made
to combine City and County services with no success. He explained that many years ago, the State
of North Carolina adopted rules and regulations dealing with annexation. Municipalities were
allowed to annex areas without a vote of the people so services could be provided. If residents living
outside the city limits were in need of water and sewer services, the city would annex that area to
provide the services. This was the intent of the annexation law. Over the years, cities have not
annexed in scheduled phases, particularly in New Hanover County where the City did not annex for
a number of years. As the County began to rapidly urbanize and sewer service was needed, the New
Hanover County Water and Sewer District was established to provide sewer to the unincorporated
area of the county over a period of years. Unfortunately, the City of Wilmington has annexed areas
in portions and many adjoining areas in need of sewer were not included in the annexation. For
example, the City has annexed along Market Street, which was extended to include Corning, Inc., but
did not include the Kings Grant area. The only other alternative left is for the County Water and
Sewer District to provide sewer to Kings Grant.
Vice-Chairman Pritchett informed Ms. Scott that every effort is being made by the District
Board to move into a combined water and sewer utility, but the City is stonewalling this effort.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 19, 2001PAGE 622
Chairman Greer commented on the amount of time that will be required for the District to
construct sewer lines in Kings Grant and he suggested that Ms. Scott and other residents approach
the City Council about annexing the Kings Grant Subdivision. He also referenced the sewer
allocation to Pender County and stated that the City of Wilmington approved the sewer capacity for
Pender County and the District charges a fee to transport the sewerage to the City’s Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
Ms. Scott expressed concern for the inability of the Wilmington City Council and New
Hanover County Board of Commissioners to communicate and stated that she would attend the next
meeting of the City Council.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Greer called for a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman,
to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on February 5, 2001. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Pritchett, to
adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 12:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board