2001-04-02 Water & Sewer Distri
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 2, 2001 PAGE 626
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District
met in Regular Session on Monday, April 2, 2001, at 7:46 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 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.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order.
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 or to comment on an item listed on the Consent Agenda.
He requested all persons speaking to limit their remarks to three minutes.
No items or comments were received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Greer called for a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion:
District Commissioner Boseman MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster,
to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 26, 2001, as presented by the District Clerk
to the Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADOPTION OF CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR THE KINGS GRANT SEWER
COLLECTION SYSTEM, AWARD OF CONTRACTS 01-0167A AND 01-0167B TO
KIMLEY-HORN AND W. K DICKSON/MCKIM & CREED TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING
SERVICES FOR THE KINGS GRANT SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND
APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT #2001-39
County Engineer Wyatt Blanchard reported that fees have been renegotiated with firms
interested in providing engineering and design services for the Kings Grant Sewer Collection System.
He noted that in response to requests by residents of the Kings Grant area and due to concern by the
Health Department regarding the number of malfunctioning septic tanks in the area, Staff was
directed to provide sewer service to Kings Grant and the surrounding area.
The proposed sewer system will serve approximately 1,700 homes in Kings Grant and
surrounding areas. The project will be divided into two parts, the east side and west side of Highway
132 North. The engineering firm of Kimley-Horn has been selected to perform engineering work for
the west side of the project and the team of W. K. Dickson and McKim & Creed has been selected
to perform the engineering work for the east side of the project. After negotiating with both firms,
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 2, 2001 PAGE 627
the price was reduced from $755,000 to $658,000 for Kimley-Horn and from $946,402 to $837,562
for the team of W. K. Dickson and McKim & Creed. The total revised cost of the project is
$1,495,562.
The design of the system will require approximately 6 to 8 months, the permitting process will
involve at least 6 months, and the construction of the project should be completed in the mid or latter
part of 2003.
County Engineer Blanchard requested the Board to award the contracts as revised, approve
the associated budget amendment, and adopt the Capital Project Ordinance.
Discussion followed on the availability of capacity in the Northside Wastewater Treatment
Plant. County Engineer Blanchard explained that capacity was currently available at the Northside
Wastewater Treatment Plant, but a portion of the District’s capacity was already committed.
Without having a way to determine the additional capacity needed by the City, it becomes difficult
to know the exact amount of available capacity. The District has a contract with the City to allow the
County to use the uncommitted capacity. When the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant is
expanded, capacity will not be a problem.
County Engineer Blanchard also stated that once the Kings Grant sewer system is completed
in areas, some residents with severe septic disposal problems can connect to the sewer service if
capacity is available at the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Vice-Chairman Pritchett asked if Staff had checked into the possibility of performing some
drainage work in Kings Grant to provide some relief.
County Engineer Blanchard responded that Staff had not been able to check into the drainage
problems in Kings Grant. He assured the District Board that Staff will begin the process and stated
that any type of work to provide better drainage will assist the residents with septic problems until
the sewer service becomes available.
Chairman Greer also requested Staff to work out an equitable way to assess the property
owners for a portion of the cost to pay for the sewer project. He noted that a cost mechanism will
have to be formulated to avoid charging one development a higher percentage than another
development. There are many residents who would pay almost any sum of money to resolve their
septic disposal problems; however, some property owners are not having any septic tank failures or
have just paid to fix a malfunctioning septic system. Some type of mechanism must be found to
provide fair treatment to all residents.
Mr. Mark Cope, a resident of Kings Grant, strongly objected to the residents of Kings Grant
having to pay for the sewer construction through assessment. He stated that members of the District
Board of Commissioners for the past 16 years have by-passed Kings Grant and used bond money to
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 2, 2001 PAGE 628
provide trunk lines to new developments. In the meantime, taxes have been raised, property values
have decreased, and it the District’s fault. The residents want the problem fixed immediately without
being required to pay a second time for the system. Sewer service was promised in 1984 and Kings
Grant does not have sewer in 2001. He urged the District to forget other projects and complete the
sewer system as soon as possible.
After hearing no further comments from the public, Chairman Greer complimented County
Engineer Blanchard for negotiating with the engineering firms to receive the best contract prices for
constructing the Kings Grant sewer collection system, and he asked if the Capital Project Ordinance
should be reduced from $1.8 million to $1.5 million.
Finance Director Bruce Shell responded that the Capital Project Ordinance should be reduced
to $1.5 million.
Chairman Greer called for a motion.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster, to
award a contract to W. K. Dickson /McKim and Creed in the amount of $837,562, award a
contract to Kimley-Horn in the amount of $658,000, adopt a revised Capital Project Ordinance in the
amount of $1.5 million, approve associated Budget Amendment #2001-39, and authorize the
Chairman to execute the necessary contract documents. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Budget Amendment #2001-39 - Sewer District
AdjustmentDebitCredit
Kings Grant Sewer System Capital Project
Installment Loan Proceeds (COPS) $1,500,000
Capital Project Expense $1,500,000
Explanation:
To establish the budget according to the Capital Project Ordinance for the Kings Grant
Sewer System.
A copy of the Project Ordinance is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is
contained in W&S Exhibit Book II, Page 29.
Copies of the contracts are on file in the Legal Department.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 2, 2001 PAGE 629
ADJOURNMENT
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Chairman Greer, to adjourn. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board