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1998-01-05 Water & Sewer NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 405 ASSEMBLY The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District held a regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 1998, at 10:37 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: District Commissioners Buzz Birzenieks; William A. Caster; Ted Davis, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Charles R. Howell; Chairman Robert G. Greer; 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-AGENDAITEMS Chairman Greer announced that time had been reserved to allow anyone from the general 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. No items were presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 8, 1997, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT 50,000 GALLONS PER DAY OF WASTEWATER CONVEYED FROM PENDER COUNTY/DEL LABS Chairman Greer requested to be recused from discussing or voting on this issue since he was a consultant for Del Labs. Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Birzenieks to recuse Chairman Greer from discussing or voting on the resolution. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman Greer requested Vice-Chairman Howell to preside over the meeting. Vice-Chairman Howell inquired as to whether anyone from the public would like to comment. The following remarks were received: Mr. Tim Baldwin, representing McKim & Creed Engineers, reported that Del Labs was a facility located in the old Carver Boat facility across the river from Castle Hayne in Pender County. The facility has a small treatment and disposal system designed to treat 20,000 gallons per day of domestic waste. When the manufacturing division of Del Labs relocates to Pender County, the company will need to treat an additional 7,500 to 15,000 gallons per day of NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 406 processed waste. Negotiations are occurring with the City of Wilmington pre-treatment staff to analyze the processed wastewater to determine the degree of treatment. Initially, Del Labs felt that an on-site wastewater treatment system could be designed to accommodate the facility with use of a spray irrigation system; however, there were environmental concerns about wetlands and the proximity of the plant to the Cape Fear River. With construction of the Ogden Interceptor and NorthChase Interceptor by New Hanover County, Del Labs felt it would be better to request treatment of the wastewater from New Hanover County in lieu of installing another small wastewater treatment plant. Discussion has been held with the County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, and the City staff about accepting 50,000 gallons per day of wastewater. It appears this option is feasible. A line can be constructed across the Cape Fear River to connect Del Labs to the NorthChase Interceptor via the outfall sewer from NorthChase, which will be abandoned when the NorthChase Interceptor project is completed. Discussion followed on the amount of domestic and processed wastewater to be treated daily. Mr. Baldwin advised that 1,700 to 15,000 gallons per day of processed waste would have to be treated as well as domestic waste ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 gallons per day. The City has the right to treat the processed waste or require treatment on the Del Labs site. This will depend upon the findings of the pre-treatment analysis. The wastewater must meet the City of Wilmington Sewer Use Ordinance Standards. Mr. Scott Satterfield, Executive Director of the Committee of 100, reported in the spring of 1997, it was announced that the warehouse distribution division of Del Labs would move to Pender County. At that time, it was felt the manufacturing portion could be moved at a later date. The manufacturing portion is the reason for the request. The warehouse distribution division has been able to use the existing package treatment plant with less than 100 employees, which will increase to 200 employees within the next month. If the decision is made by Del Labs to move the manufacturing division to Pender County, approximately 1,000 more jobs will be created over the next three years. In order for the manufacturing phase to be implemented, the processed wastewater will have to be treated. In closing, Mr. Satterfield reported an announcement should be received in the near future about the relocation of Del Labs to Pender County with the exception of a few executive level jobs. The expansion of this company will greatly enhance the economy in this region. County Manager O’Neal commented on concerns received from residents in the Castle Hayne area, and he requested the County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, to report on the future plans for providing sewer to the area. County Engineer Blanchard presented a map of the existing discharge line that goes from the NorthChase Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Vision Software Treatment Plant to the Cape Fear River. With construction of the Ogden Interceptor and NorthChase Interceptor, these treatment plants will be eliminated and the waste flow in the Castle Hayne area will be carried to the City’s Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant on 23rd Street by December 30, 1998. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 407 The Castle Hayne Collection System is scheduled to be completed by June 20, 2002. The design phase of the project should begin in 2001. The system will serve the immediate Castle Hayne area and surrounding areas that have the number of required houses per mile. Discussion followed on the completion date of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion. County Engineer Blanchard stated this project should be completed by June 30, 2001. Vice-Chairman Howell inquired as to whether accepting the capacity from Del Labs will interfere with anyone from New Hanover County acquiring a sewage tap? County Engineer Blanchard responded under the proposed time fame, there should be no problem with any resident from New Hanover County securing a sewerage tap. The District will begin to receive requests from the Castle Hayne area to connect to the system once the project is completed. District Commissioner Davis stressed the importance of everyone understanding the following facts if the request from Pender County and Del Labs is approved: (1) allocation of the 50,000 gallons per day capacity to Pender County/Del Labs will not keep New Hanover County residents from being able to connect to the Sewer System; (2) there will be no cost to New Hanover County; (3) Pender County and Del Labs will pay for construction of the sewer line; and (4) Del Labs will pay to hook onto the system and pay the standard fee for treatment of wastewater with the revenue collected being distributed to New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington. County Engineer Blanchard noted that Del Labs will also pay the cost to expand the plant to replace the capacity being used. Once the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion is completed, the capacity will be increased from 12,000,000 to 14,000,000 gallons per day. District Commissioner Davis asked Pender County Manager, John Bauer, if the capacity requested by Del Labs could have been provided by Pender County? County Manager Bauer responded that Pender County committed to installing the facilities, either a pipe line and pump station, or a wastewater treatment plant; however, the regional agreement being proposed was the best alternative because the spray field irrigation system could create environmental problems. District Commissioner Davis emphasized the fact that approval of the request would be a regional cooperative effort between New Hanover County and Pender County to accommodate Del Labs, which will create new jobs and stimulate the economy for both Pender County and New Hanover County. Discussion followed on the construction cost of the sewer line. County Manager Bauer advised that Pender County would pay for construction of the line through grant funding and a local match of $250,000. Del Labs will pay the user fees for treatment of the waste. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 408 Mr. Daniel Alton Parker, owner of Ace Septic Tank Company, reported his septic tank trucks had been parked since 1991 because there was no place to dump septic sewage. After reading the paper regarding the Del Labs request, he called Prince George, Prince William, and Fairfax counties in Virginia and was told that state law requires septic tanks to be pumped out every five years with the septic sewage being placed in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Documents must be signed by the property owner and septic tank company to ensure the law has been enforced. These counties allow septic sewage and grease traps from restaurants to be dumped into municipal wastewater treatment plants. The pumpers are charged $20 per load with a $300 fee per truck annually for inspection by the Health Department. For the past seventeen years, he has tried to work with the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County to help him obtain 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of capacity to treat septic sewage. He urged the District Board to address this issue so he can go back into business. Ms. Bessie Hearn, a resident of Castle Hayne, expressed concern for waste going into the Cape Fear River. She reported her son almost died on his eleventh birthday after swimming in the river. He stayed in Chapel Hill Hospital for a period of time with an acute infection as a result of bacteria in the river. Her family owes $30,000 in medical bills because of this incident. When calling Mr. Howell this summer about the problem, she was told that her son should not swim in the river, which in her opinion, was not an acceptable answer. The Potter septic tank trucks are dumping septic waste across the river in Pender County. With disposal of waste into the river by NorthChase, hog farms, and septic tank trucks in Pender County, the bacteria will continue to increase. She urged the District Board to keep other companies from dumping waste into the Cape Fear River. Mr. John Feeley, representing the Cape Fear River Watch, advised the Watch group did not have concern about the proposal presented by Pender County; however, there was concern for setting a precedent. To allow surrounding counties to request capacity could have long-term repercussions on future needs. He requested the District Board to consider this factor when deciding on the request. Mr. Thomas A. Radewicz, a member of the Castle Hayne Steering Committee, reported the citizens of Castle Hayne had been faced with the problem of sewage coming into Castle Hayne from other places for the past ten years. The residents have been required to hire lawyers to ensure the NorthChase sewer discharge would be removed from the Cape Fear River. For the past twenty years, the taxpayers in Castle Hayne have paid for sewer bonds that were voter approved to provide a county-wide sewer system. As of this date, not one inch of sewer line has been placed in Castle Hayne. If the request from Pender County is approved, the Castle Hayne Steering Committee would like to be represented on the planning organization for management of the Pender County/Del Labs pipe line. The District Board was requested to consider the people in Castle Hayne when rendering a decision on the sewer capacity request. Mr. Jim Bordeaux, a member of the Castle Hayne Steering Committee, requested the District Board to defer action so further study could be made on the issue. He expressed concern for placement of a pumping station near the Cape Fear River which will probably create an NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 409 offensive odor and devalue property in that area. The District Board was requested to avoid allowing this interceptor to become an industrial interceptor that will run through Castle Hayne without allowing the residents of Castle Hayne to connect to the sewer system. The needs of Castle Hayne should be met before providing service to Pender County or any other county. Mr. James Garner, a resident of Castle Hayne, stated Potter septic tank trucks are seen daily carrying septic sewage and dumping on wetlands in Pender County approximately 200 to 300 feet from the Cape Fear River. New Hanover County is paying seven cents per gallon for the septic sewage to be carried to Pender County. Pictures were presented showing children swimming in the Cape Fear River within 100 feet from the discharge site. The District Board was requested to address the sewer needs in New Hanover County to protect the river from waste before providing sewer to Pender County. District Commissioner Caster commented on regional issues and stressed the importance of Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties working together to address the impact of discharge on persons living downstream. He stated approval of this request will eliminate the NorthChase discharge into the Cape Fear River as well as enhance the economy for both counties. County Manager O’Neal offered to meet with Mrs. Hearn to explain the purpose and aspects of the project. He stated it was important for everyone to understand that New Hanover County property taxes are not used to support the Sewer System. The system is supported by user fees and the sales tax. District Commissioner Birzenieks expressed appreciation to the citizens for expressing their concerns, which do merit attention; however, these issues are peripheral to the economic and environmental benefits that can be received from approving the request. Motion: District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to adopt the resolution to accept 50,000 gallons per day of wastewater from Pender County. 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 22. Vice-Chairman Howell turned the meeting over to Chairman Greer. DISCUSSION OF SEPTIC TANK FAILURES ON GORDON ROAD District Commissioner Caster reported on receiving a call from Mr. Thomas Jones, a resident of Gordon Road, who was experiencing septic tank failure. After discussing the matter with the Environmental Division of the Health Department, Mr. Jones was informed the cost for correcting the problem would be from $3,000 to $5,000. District Commissioner Caster asked if any financial assistance or grants were available to help Mr. Jones with the projected cost? NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1998PAGE 410 County Engineer Blanchard responded that no grants were available; however, he would be glad to check into the matter. Motion: District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:36 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the District Board