2001-08-20 Water & Sewer Distri
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 660
ASSEMBLY
The District Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in
nd
Regular Session on Monday, August 20, 2001 at 11:50 A.M. in the 2 Floor Conference Room of
the New Hanover County Library, 216 Chestnut 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 Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Greer announced that time had been reserved to allow 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 remarks were received.
ADOPTION OFRESOLUTION TO ACCEPT AN OFFER OF PROPERTY DONATED BY
R.C. FOWLER PROPERTIES, INC.
Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver advised that Mr. R. C. Fowler and wife, Lee
Fowler, have made available to the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District two tracts of land
within the Walnut Hills Development. Site evaluations have been performed on both properties and
Staff recommends acceptance of tracts for public utility easements.
Motion:
District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster,
to adopt a resolution to accept the two properties donated by R. C. Fowler and wife, Lee Fowler for
use by the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District as utility easements. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the resolution is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in
W&S Exhibit Book II, Page 32.
PRESENTATION ON THE STATUS OF NORTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT (WWTP) EXPANSION BY MCKIM AND CREED AND HAZEN & SAWYER
Mr. Alex Monroe, representing McKim & Creed and Hazen & Sawyer, presented the
following status report on the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project:
Status of Wastewater Master Plan:
•The water quality model was submitted to the Division of Water Quality earlier this year.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 661
•The final reports on the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant and Southside Wastewater
Treatment Plant have been submitted to the City and County.
•The wastewater conveyance evaluations have been submitted to the City and County.
•Wastewater conveyance modeling initial runs are in the process of being finalized and this
information will be submitted to the City and County within a few weeks.
•Capital Improvement Plans have been developed and submitted to the City and County.
•The Wastewater Master Plan is 95% complete and should be finished by the middle of
September. Information is needed concerning development of the Parker property on Military
Cut-Off Road to determine the impact of the project on the model and overall Master Plan.
Status of Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant Final Design:
•The preliminary engineering phase has been completed.
•Recently submitted 60% of final design documents to the City and County for review.
•The speculative limits letter has been submitted to the Division of Water Quality.
•Renewal NPDES permit packages for the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant and
Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant have been submitted to the Division of Water Quality.
Discussion followed on the speculative limits letter to the Division of Water Quality. Mr.
Monroe explained that a request was made in the speculative limits letter to request the Division of
Water Quality to maintain the current limits at 15 milligrams per liter BOD and 4 milligrams per liter
ammonia in the discharge. The Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant is not currently permitted for
the ammonia. This means that treated discharge will have an 85% reduction in the ammonia and 50%
reduction in the BOD levels. The limits could be lowered, but a great deal of money has been spent
by the City and County to hire Tetra-Tex to perform the modeling. This company is the world’s
leading authority on estuary modeling as well as the firm selected by the EPA to perform the
modeling. The Lower Cape Fear River is listed as an impaired river, and it is not felt this is the case
which has been shown in the modeling performed.
Construction Costs:
Mr. Monroe submitted a chart on construction costs and reported the project is still at a 20%
contingency and stated until some outstanding issues with equipment and the location of certain items
on the site have been resolved, the contingency figure will not be reduced. The overall cost of the
project has not increased and is still at $64 million including the 20% contingency. Once the total
package is submitted to the Division of Water Quality, the contingency figure should be lowered.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 662
Project Schedule:
Mr. Monroe reported that the construction schedule is a little behind due to negotiations for
the thermal dryer and waiting to receive review documents by the Division of Water Quality. The
results of the permitting process will determine whether more time will be required. At the current
time, the Northside Wasterwater Treatment Plant should be completed by 2005.
Public Involvement:
A meeting was held with the Division of Water Quality to determine if an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be performed. It is not felt that
that an EIS is warranted, but to satisfy concerns of the Division of Water Quality, the public
involvement process has started and presentations will be made by representatives from the City and
County to the following groups:
•Economic Groups on September 18, 2001
•Lower Cape Fear River Monitoring Group on September 21, 2001
•Environmental Non-Profit Groups on September 26 and 29, 2001
•Website: No decision is made on who will host the website.
Environmental Assessment:
•The Environmental Assessment was submitted to the Division of Water Quality in July and
it has been returned noting that no decision had been made on whether to require an
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Meetings have been held
with other agencies and if no water quality problems are caused with installation of the pipe
line, the Marine Fisheries and other agencies did not have a problem with performing an
Environmental Assessment.
In closing, Mr. Monroe offered to answer any questions.
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to Mr. Monroe for an informative report and noted
that he had been involved with expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant for
approximately 7 to 8 years. He stated that it now appears the expansion will be completed in
approximately 31/2 years.
ACTION DEFERRED UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2001 ON CAPITAL PROJECT
ORDINANCE-BALD EAGLE LANE/FIGURE EIGHT WATER EXTENSIONS CONTRACT
#01-0284B
Finance Director Bruce Shell noted that this item had been continued at the request of Figure
Eight Island and the contractor has been willing to delay the bid award. When reviewing the project,
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 663
it was determined that the proposed water line could not only provide water to Bald Eagle Lane and
Figure Eight Island due to saltwater intrusion, but to Edgewater Club Road and the entrance to
Marsh Oaks. Unfortunately, Figure Eight Island does not have the necessary information to make
a decision and has requested the District Board to allow this community to connect to the line at a
later date. When calculating figures without a contribution by the District and no participation by
residents of Figure Eight Island and Edgewater Club Road, the cost per property owner will be
approximately $4,000.
District Commissioner Davis asked what the cost per property owner would be if Figure Eight
Island and Edgewater Club Road participate in the project.
Finance Director Shell responded the cost per unit would be approximately $2,300.
In concluding his remarks, Finance Director Shell requested the Board to delay action on the
contract award to allow more time for the residents of Figure Eight Island and other neighborhoods
to decide on whether to participate in the project.
Chairman Greer commented on the problems being experienced with salt water intrusion and
suggested the possibility of purchasing water from Porters Neck Plantation for a short period of time.
Vice-Chairman Pritchett asked if discussion had been held with Onsite, Inc. about delaying
the bid award.
Finance Director Shell responded that Onsite, Inc. is willing to delay the bid until October.
If no decision has been rendered by Figure Eight Island, the project will have to be re-bid.
Consensus:
After further discussion, it was the consensus of the District Board to defer action on
the bid award until October 1, 2001, direct Staff to continue to discuss the project with all
neighborhoods involved, and check into the possibility of purchasing water from Porters Neck
Plantation on an interim basis.
ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC DEDICATION-MISHOE ESTATES - CASTLE HAYNE
Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver reported that New Hanover County has proposed
a sewer line to run along Holly Shelter Road in Castle Hayne. This line will cross the following
platted streets: Shearin Avenue, Bayboro Avenue and Pine Needle Avenue as shown on a recorded
map for Mishoe Estate. The streets have been offered for public acceptance and a resolution has been
prepared to accept the platted streets for water and sewer line usage.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Pritchett, to adopt
a resolution to accept Shearin Avenue, Bayboro Avenue, and Pine Needle Avenue for the purpose
of providing water and/or sewer service. Upon vote the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 664
A copy of the resolution is here incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in W&S
Exhibit Book II, Page 32.
APPROVAL OF UTILITY AGREEMENT (CONTRACT #02-0027) WITH THE N. C.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR INSTALLATION OF A 24 INCH STEEL
ENCASEMENT FOR FUTURE WATERLINE
Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver requested the Board to approve a contract with the
N. C. Department of Transportation to install a 24-inch encasement crossing the new Outer Loop
near Highway 17 in Kirkland. Inclusion of the pipe as part of the project will save approximately 99
percent of the cost that would be involved with installing the pipe after construction of the highway.
Approval of this request will allow for a future water line when needed in this area. The cost to the
District will be approximately $23,000, and the money will not be paid until the work is completed.
After hearing no discussion from the members of the District Board, Chairman Greer called
for a motion.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster, to
approve an agreement with the N. C. Department of Transportation to install the 24-inch casing pipe
as a future water line for the District and authorize the Chairman to execute the necessary contract
documents.
A copy of the contract is on file in the Legal Department.
ADDITIONAL ITEM - EXPLANATION OF HUD FUNDS FOR THE CASTLE HAYNE
SEWER PROJECT
Finance Director Shell advised that Staff was requested to present a breakdown of the Castle
Hayne Sewer Project on the amount of the HUD grant for the Castle Hayne Project. He presented
and explained the following figures:
Castle Hayne Project HUD Budget Castle Hayne HUD Obligated Budget
Grant Funding $ 919,382Castle Hayne Service Conn. $ 207,000
County Funding 800,000Atlantic Construction Company 947,091
Total $1,719,382Drainage Grant 376,414
Unobligated 188,877
Total $1,719,392
Finance Director Shell offered to answer questions.
After hearing no comments from the members of the District Board, Chairman Greer
expressed appreciation to Finance Director Shell for the breakdown of figures on the project.
District Commissioner Davis commented on the need to provide sewer service to Castle
Hayne and he urged Staff to move forward with the project.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20, 2001 PAGE 665
Further discussion was held on the Hanby/Wilmington Beach project and where the residents
will pay their fees. Finance Director Shell explained that discussion was being held with the Town
of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach about locating an office in the area for payment of the fees.
Chairman Greer requested Staff to be sure that the public is informed once an office has been
located, and he requested the Public Information Officer to place this announcement on the New
Hanover County TV System.
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE WELL PROBLEM IN VETERANS PARK
County Engineer, Jim Craig, reported that two basic issues have to be addressed: (1) the
irrigation system; and (2) failure of wells in the area. Based on the opinion of experts, no one is sure
whether the groundwater pumping at Veterans Park is contributing to the failure of residential wells.
Staff will calibrate the water meter for the schools and monitor the discharge flow. This process will
take approximately a week, and it will provide an accurate picture of water use amounts by the
schools and show if drinking water is being diverted from the schools through the irrigation system.
Once more information is received, a report will be made to the District Board. It is hoped that the
Board of Education will participate in finding and resolving the problem.
After further discussion, the District Board requested County Manager O’Neal to be sure the
calibrations are properly performed and the Board of Education and all parties are informed and
involved in the process.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Pritchett, to
adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 12:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board