2001-09-17 Water & Sewer Distri
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 PAGE 669
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District
met in Regular Session on Monday, September 17, 2001 at 1:00 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 requested a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion:
Vice-Chairman Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman, to
approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on September 4, 2001, as presented by the Clerk
to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF REQUEST FROM THE CAPE FEAR FAIR AND EXPO FOR A
TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES
Director of Engineering, Wyatt E. Blanchard, reported that the County received a letter from
Skip Watkins of the Cape Fear Fair and Expo requesting partial or total exemption from the
wastewater impact fees for the County Fair location being developed at the Airport. As part of the
development, the Fair Board is planning to construct a sewer collection system to serve camper
trailers, food vendors, etc. In order to build a collection system, a State Permit is required. When
a permit is issued by the State, an equal amount of flow is assigned or obligated in the wastewater
treatment plant. The wastewater flow for the proposed system is 8,000 gallons per day. The impact
fee for this amount of flow would be $39,236 based on $3.75 per gallon of daily flow.
When an exemption is given for an impact fee, it costs the District approximately $4.00 per
daily gallon to provide the capacity based on the cost to expand the treatment plant which equates
to $32,000 in this case. The only exemptions granted have been for County agencies. The County
Manager is recommending issuance of a temporary exemption to be reviewed on an annual basis, and
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 PAGE 670
if this status becomes permanent, the Cape Fear Fair and Expo will be expected to pay appropriate
fees at that time.
County Engineer Blanchard explained that when the State issues a permit for the7-day Fair,
the 8,000 gallons per day will be allocated for each remaining day of the year; therefore, he is
concerned about the lack of capacity at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mr. Skip Watkins, President of the Cape Fear Fair and Expo, informed the District Board that
approval had been granted from the Airport Authority for the Fair to be held on their grounds for five
years. The Fair Directors are in the process of looking for a permanent home and hopefully a site will
be announced in the near future. If the Airport site should become permanent, the Directors
understand that impact fees will have to be paid.
Chairman Greer suggested reviewing the temporary exemption on an annual basis to avoid
any problems with availability of treatment capacity at the wastewater treatment plant.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Pritchett, to grant
a temporary exemption from wastewater impact fees to the Cape Fear Fair and Expo to be reviewed
on an annual basis beginning July 1 each year.
Vice-Chairman Pritchett pointed out that the motion will require Mr. Watkins to appear
before the Board on July 1, 2002, and she asked if this should be July 1, 2003, since the first Fair held
on the Airport site will be October 2002.
Mr. Watkins requested the Board to consider the first annual review on July 1, 2003.
Amended Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman
Pritchett, to grant a temporary exemption from wastewater impact fees to the Cape Fear Fair and
Expo to be reviewed on an annual basis beginning July 1, 2003. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF METER READING CONTRACT #02-0118 TO UTILITY METER
SERVICES, INC.
Ms. Julie Griffin, Finance Director of the Water and Sewer District, requested the District
Board to enter into a contract with Utility Meter Services, Inc. to provide meter reading services for
the Water and Sewer District. The contract will begin November 1, 2001 and run through June 30,
2004 with a contracted price of $1.66 per meter read. It is estimated that the annual cost will be
$154,000.
This contract will replace services provided by the County’s previous service provider which
filed for bankruptcy in May, 2001. The County is currently providing this service with two temporary
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 PAGE 671
employees who do not want to continue to provide the service. After review of available options,
Staff feels the District should enter into a new contract with Utility Meter Services, Inc.
Discussion followed on whether the meter reading service could be performed by County
employees at a reduced cost. Finance Director Griffin advised that it would require hiring at least
three employees at a salary of $136,000, including the purchase of three new vehicles. This is
approximately $18,000 less than the contracted service, but salaries and benefits will increase in the
future, new vehicles will have to be purchased, and employees will have to be trained. Staff feels
contracting out the service is the most efficient way to handle the meter reading program.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Pritchett, to
approve Contract #02-0118 with Utility Meter Services, Inc. to read meters for the Water and Sewer
District beginning November 1, 2001 running through June 30, 2004 at a contract price of $1.66 per
meter read. Upon vote the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the contract is on file in the Legal Department.
WORK SESSION SCHEDULED TO HEAR FROM ENGINEERING FIRMS REGARDING
A PLAN TO SUPPLY WATER TO FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND AND BALD EAGLE LANE
Chairman Greer reported that the engineering firms working on a plan to supply water to
Figure Eight Island and Bald Eagle Lane have requested a Work Session to present the plan.
Consensus:
After discussion, it was the consensus of the District Board to schedule a Work Session
on October 15, 2001, at 3:00 P.M. following the Work Session on consolidation beginning at 1:00
P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman,
to adjourn the meeting.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting 1:14 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board