1996-05-20 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, MAY 20, 1996PAGE 299
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County
Water & Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, May 20,
1996, at 12:51 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County
Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: District Commissioners William A.
Caster; Robert G. Greer; William E. Sisson, Jr.; Vice-Chairman
Sandra Barone; Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.; County Manager, Allen
O'Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board,
Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Mathews called the meeting to order.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Mathews inquired as to whether anyone from the
general public would like to present an item not listed on the
Regular Agenda.
No remarks or items were presented.
WITHDRAWAL OF ITEM #2, A REQUEST BY JOHN BERMAN FOR A 20,000 GALLON
PER DAY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO SERVE A PROPOSED SHOPPING
CENTER IN CASTLE HAYNE, NORTH CAROLINA
Chairman Mathews announced this item had been withdrawn from
the agenda by the petitioner.
APPROVAL OF SEWER ALLOCATION FOR THE WRIGHTSBORO BAPTIST CHURCH
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported the Wrightsboro
Baptist Church has requested a 1,000 gallon per day sewer
allocation because of problems being experienced with the septic
system. Staff recommends approval of the sewer allocation
contingent upon the allocation being used within one year.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to grant the 1,000 gallon per day sewer
allocation to Wrightsboro Baptist Church contingent upon the
allocation being used within one year. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH CONDEMNATION OF EASEMENTS FOR THE
MOTT'S CREEK PROJECT
Project Engineer, George Shaw, presented a map of the area and
reported the County had been unable to negotiate the necessary
easements for the Mott's Creek project. Authorization was
requested for condemnation of the easements for the project if no
negotiations occurred within the near future because re-routing the
project would be too costly.
Motion: After discussion of the small number of easements that have
been obtained through condemnation during the years of sewer
construction, District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, MAY 20, 1996PAGE 300
District Commissioner Greer to authorize Staff to proceed with
condemnation, if necessary, for obtaining the easements for the
Mott's Creek project. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION OF SEWAGE TREATMENT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF
WILMINGTON (CONTRACT #96-0319)
County Manager O'Neal advised that this contract was
considered at the May 6, 1996, meeting; however, the following
major changes (shown in bold type) have been recommended by the
City of Wilmington with a few other minor changes that are
acceptable to Staff.
(1)Paragraph 7 of the agreement to read as follows:
"The District shall be responsible for payment for all
engineering and construction work necessary for the Plant
Expansion as defined in Section 3. In addition, the District
shall pay a portion of the Plant Upgrade cost as described in
the spreadsheet shown as Exhibit A. The District also shall
pay a portion of the cost of the Spring Branch outfall equal
to one-half of the value of the Northside Wastewater Treatment
Plant property. Except for the above amounts, the City shall
be responsible for all engineering and construction work
necessary for the Plant Upgrade. Payment for shared
construction shall be split proportionately based on flow
capacity between the City and District. The above payment by
the District for the cost of the Spring Branch outfall shall
be in lieu of any payment to the City for land costs.
(2)Paragraph 8 of the agreement to read as follows:
"Provided, however, at the time of completion, if mutually
agreed to by the City and District, the percentage interest in
the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant to be conveyed to the
District may be determined by dividing the total construction
cost paid by the District including the cost of the Spring
Branch outfall by the total value of the Northside Wastewater
Treatment Plant at the time of completion."
County Engineer Blanchard reported the recommended change
would eliminate construction of a large pump station by the City in
this area. The Spring Branch Interceptor will cost $799,000 with
the County paying $312,500 and the City paying $486,500.
Chairman Mathews commented on Section 9 and inquired as to why
the District should be responsible for 75% of design and
construction costs for the septage and grease facility with the
City being responsible for only 25%?
County Engineer Blanchard advised that all septage and a large
portion of grease is generated from the county.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, MAY 20, 1996PAGE 301
County Manager O'Neal responded he would be glad to make a
counter-offer to the City?
Commissioner Sisson responded if the County is the main
generator of the septage and grease, there should be no problem
with the percentage figures as written in the agreement.
Chairman Mathews commented on the odor at the City's
Wastewater Treatment Plant on 23rd Street and asked if new
technology would be used to eliminate the odor.
County Engineer Blanchard responded the design for the new
plant should include new technology which should eliminate the
odor.
Chairman Mathews recommended changing the agreement to include
the new technology in the design of the new plant.
Discussion was held on the maximum capacity of the City's
current wastewater treatment plant?
County Engineer Blanchard reported the current capacity is
eight million gallons with the sludge facilities being upgraded and
now in place. With anticipated future growth, the eight million
gallon capacity should last approximately three to four years.
Adequate land is available to expand the plant to a capacity of
fourteen to eighteen million gallons which should last 20 to 25
years.
Discussion was held on the County's original plan to purchase
property and construct an 8 million gallon facility with the
initial phase being a 4 million gallon facility at an estimated
cost of $11 million. Chairman Greer expressed concern for the lack
of savings to the District in the joint construction effort.
County Engineer Blanchard explained that the original estimate
for the plant was $12 million excluding the purchase of land
because the Airport property was being considered at that time.
District Commissioner Greer commented on the need to be near
the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant on 23rd Street in order to
use the City's discharge line, and he asked if the City could keep
the District from using this line?
County Engineer Blanchard responded that the City could keep
the District from using the discharge line.
District Commissioner Greer asked if the County could purchase
the property next to the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant and
construct a facility with merging of the facilities at a later
date.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, MAY 20, 1996PAGE 302
County Engineer Blanchard advised that merging two plants
would be difficult because the plants would be on separate sites
with two separate operations. To construct one plant would be more
efficient and cost effective, particularly if the two governing
bodies are considering an authority or district for operation of
the facility.
District Commissioner Greer expressed concern for turning over
the entire operation of the facility to the City and recommended
approval of the agreement contingent upon some type of authority or
district being established for operation of the facility within
eighteen months. He, also, expressed concern for the language
proposed by the County Attorney referring to some "other municipal
corporate entity" instead of an authority.
County Attorney Copley reported this verbiage was used to
allow for the creation of an authority, district, or other
municipal corporate entity to own and operate the facility.
After further discussion of not being locked into specific
language, the District Board agreed to amend the agreement to
require the creation of an authority or district within eighteen
months to operate and manage the facility.
Motion: After further discussion, District Commissioner Sisson
MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to accept the
agreement for expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant
including the amendments recommended by the City relative to the
Spring Branch outfall and inclusion of new odor technology in the
design contingent upon the creation of a district or authority for
operation of the facility within eighteen months. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster
District Commissioner Sisson
Vice-Chairman Barone
Chairman Mathews
Voting Nay: District Commissioner Greer
A copy of the amended agreement is on file in the Legal
Department.
DISCUSSION OF REQUEST BY CONOCO FOR THE DISTRICT TO PAY FOR A
PORTION OF THE WATER SYSTEM TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE WRIGHTSBORO
AREA
County Engineer Blanchard reported that Conoco has requested
the District to pay for a portion of the costs involved with
construction of a water system in the Wrightsboro area. He advised
that another option to consider would be establishing a fee at a
certain dollar amount for new development with this fee being paid
back to Conoco in lieu of using District funds.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, MAY 20, 1996PAGE 303
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to establish a fee for new development in the
Wrightsboro area with these fees being paid back to Conoco in an
amount not to exceed $200,000. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION TO MR. EDWARD WARD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A
PUMPING STATION ON THE GREENVILLE LOOP ROAD
District Commissioner Greer reported Mr. Edward Ward, who
constructed a pumping station for the area adjacent to the Ellerby
property, has requested compensation for the additional cost
involved with constructing the pump station which serves the area
residents and is not deeded to the District. He requested Staff to
negotiate an agreement with Mr. Ward not to exceed $20,000.
Discussion was held on why the pump station was not deeded to
the District. District Commissioner Greer reported it appears that
error after error occurred over the years in trying to resolve the
easement disagreement among the various property owners.
County Attorney Copley informed the District Board that the
District had been maintaining the pump station without ownership.
Motion: After discussion of the need to settle this issue,
District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to compensate Mr. Edward Ward an amount not to
exceed $20,000 for costs involved with constructing the pump
station contingent upon the title being deeded to the District.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
District Commissioner Greer requested Staff to be sure that
all pump stations being maintained by the District have been deeded
to the District.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 11:45 A.M.
Sincerely,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board