1998-03-23 Water & Sewer District
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II
REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 23, 1998PAGE 420
ASSEMBLY
The District Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in
Regular Session on Monday, March 23, 1998, at 10:51 a.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; Ted Davis, Jr.; William A.
Caster; Vice-Chairman Charles R. Howell; Chairman Robert G. Greer; Deputy County Manager,
Andrew J. Atkinson; 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
comment on an item that was not listed on the Regular Agenda. He requested all persons speaking
to limit their remarks to three minutes.
No comments were received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion:
District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster
to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 9, 1998 as presented by the Clerk to the
District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM INLAND GREENS HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION TO ACCEPT INTERNAL SEWER SYSTEM
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported the Inland Greens Homeowners Association has
requested the District to accept the internal sewer system within Inland Greens for ownership and
maintenance. The policy of the District is not to accept sewer lines within multi-family projects
unless a given sewer line will serve other areas beyond the multi-family area. The system has
approximately 4,300 feet of sewer lines and serves approximately 144 units.
The lines in the streets appear to be in good condition, but the locations of a majority of the
services are not known. All services must be located and mapped to provide proper maintenance.
One manhole has not been completed and it will have to be raised to the surface. The system was not
constructed to District standards and was not inspected during construction. It is important to note
that acceptance of this system may set a precedent for acceptance of other systems.
If the request is granted, the Inland Greens Homeowners Association should be required to
provide detailed information on system construction, the condition of the system, and the necessary
engineering as requested by the County Engineer before the system is accepted. The Homeowners
Association should be required to pay for repairs and changes to the system as outlined by the County
Engineer.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II
REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 23, 1998PAGE 421
In closing, County Engineer Blanchard advised that cleanouts for individual units would have
to be located if the line is accepted by the District.
A lengthy discussion followed on whether the District should accept the system. Chairman
Greer advised the District currently maintains a portion of the system in Inland Greens; therefore, if
the line is accepted, all residents will receive the same service. If the District Board decides to accept
the line, the responsibilities and conditions of acceptance should be clearly outlined for the Inland
Greens Homeowners Association.
County Engineer Blanchard requested the District Board to require the following conditions
of the Homeowners Association if the system is accepted by the District: (1) raise the manhole up to
the surface; and (2) locate the cleanouts at the rights-of-way that have not been located. He advised
location of the cleanouts would save a great deal of time for staff.
Further discussion followed whether acceptance of the system would be beneficial to the
District. County Engineer Blanchard advised that no benefits would be gained since the line would
not serve other areas beyond the multi-family project, and he expressed concern for opening the door
to similar requests. He inquired as to whether the sewer policy should be changed if the system is
accepted?
Chairman Greer advised this was a unique situation that should not reoccur; therefore, he
would not recommend changing the policy.
District Commissioner Caster requested to be recused from voting on the issue because his
parents, mother-in-law, and brother live in Inland Greens.
Motion:
District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Davis
to recuse District Commissioner Caster from voting on this issue. Upon vote, the motion carried.
Motion:
After a lengthy discussion, Vice-Chairman Howell MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Birzenieks to accept the internal sewer system within Inland Greens contingent upon
the Inland Greens Homeowners Association being responsible for costs involved with raising the
manhole to the surface; locating the cleanouts at the rights-of-way and providing detailed information
on the condition of the system to the County Engineer before the District accepts the system. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye:District Commissioner Birzenieks
District Commissioner Davis
Vice-Chairman Howell
Chairman Greer
Recused:District Commissioner Caster
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK II
REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 23, 1998PAGE 422
ADJOURNMENT
Motion:
District Commissioner Birzenieks MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Davis
to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:05 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board