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1996-08-19 Water & Sewer NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 19, 1996PAGE 321 ASSEMBLY The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, August 19, 1996, at 12:10 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 public would like to present an item not listed on the Regular Agenda. The following comments were received: Mr. William Funderburg, a resident of Castle Hayne, passed out a document to each member of the Board and expressed concern about the infrastructure in New Hanover County. He advised that New Hanover County was in violation of Public Law 92-500, the policy established for NPDES permitting process. On July 11, 1996, information was requested on N.C.G.S. 159-C(7) for the Vision Software plant in the I-40 Industrial Park; however, no information has been received as of this date. Mr. Funderburg requested a report on the status of the project. He questioned why the New Hanover County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority was circumvented from the Vision Software project, and he expressed concern for the disparity in figures being documented for the District regarding the water being pumped versus the sewage discharge. Chairman Mathews asked Mr. Funderburg if a written request has been submitted to Staff for response to his questions? Mr. Funderburg responded that information was requested from Ms. Wanda Coston in July with the understanding that this matter would be discussed with the Assistant County Attorney. After waiting two weeks to receive a response, he called Ms. Coston again and was told that the request had been forwarded to the County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard. County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, advised that he had not seen the documentation; therefore, he could not comment on the matter. Mr. Funderburg expressed concern for the length of time that has expired and advised that a Public Hearing was held on the County's NPDES permit regarding the Bridge Port Facility and the NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 19, 1996PAGE 322 Vision Software Plant being developed in the I-40 Industrial Park. He requested the District Board to delay tapping into the Bridge Port wastewater discharge line going into the Northeast Cape Fear River from the I-40 Industrial Park until the County's NPDES permit had been renewed by the State. Emphasis was placed on the importance of not circumventing the NPDES permitting process. County Engineer Blanchard advised that the new NPDES permit had not been issued, but a permit had been received to construct the Vision Software Project. District Commissioner Sisson expressed concern for a request being made to Staff on July 11, 1996, with no response as of this date. Discussion was held on the information requested. Mr. Funderburg advised he had requested a copy of N.C.G.S. 159-C(7) issued by the N. C. Department of Commerce regarding Community Development Block grant funds. This statute specifically states that no federal, state, or county funds can be used for an industrial development until clearance from the N. C. Department of Commerce under N.C.G.S. 159-C(7) which certifies that the industry is a non-polluting industry. District Commissioner Sisson agreed with Mr. Funderburg and advised that all industries located in the I-40 Industrial Park should be certified by the N. C. Department of Commerce as non- polluting industries. Mr. Funderburg advised that when the initial report was issued about Vision Software locating in the I-40 Industrial Park, the Planning Director was advised of the need to receive certification through N.C.G.S. 159-C(7) and the Planning Director at that time made a note of the request. District Commissioner Caster commented on attending the Public Hearing held in Castle Hayne and reported the members of the Cape Fear River Program had decided to monitor the discharge at the Northeast Cape Fear River outfall site. District Commissioner Greer recommended a periodic sampling of the discharge site at the Northeast Cape Fear River. He inquired as to whether the Health Department had been contacted about performing the tests. County Manager O'Neal responded he would contact the Health Department about testing the sites periodically. Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, reported at the NPDES Public Hearing, the residents of Castle Hayne had studied the issue and made excellent comments. One suggestion was to form a committee comprised of staff members from the County Engineering NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 19, 1996PAGE 323 Department, State Environmental Management Department, and a representative from the Castle Hayne area. The committee has been formed and the first meeting has been scheduled this week. Hopefully, this committee will increase the monitoring of the discharge site into the Cape Fear River and provide for better management of sludge. District Commissioner Greer, again, emphasized the importance of periodic monitoring at the Northeast Cape Fear River discharge site and stated if the District has a problem, it should be addressed. Mr. Funderburg expressed appreciation to the Board for the remarks received and stated before leaving he would like to compliment the Clerk to the Board for the excellent job being performed to the citizens of New Hanover County. He expressed concern for the manner in which the County Manager and County Attorney were performing their jobs, and he requested the Board to consider these points when evaluating the three employees at the end of the Regular Meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to approve the minutes of August 5, 1996, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. DISCUSSION OF EXPANSION TO THE CITY'S NORTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT County Manager O'Neal reported the last formal discussion by the District Board on the joint County/City expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant occurred in early June. At that time, the District Board advised the City that creation of a single entity or coordinated approach to the provision of water and sewer was decided by the District Board. The City responded with a letter on June 19, 1996, and after recent conversations with the City Manager, it appears the City is interested in discussing the matter more fully. He requested direction as to whether the District Board would like to discuss the joint expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant and the creation of a single entity or coordinated approach for operation of the facility, or should the District independently move forward with constructing a Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Vice-Chairman Barone advised that the Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority was already in place with State enabling legislation to serve as the entity to provide long-term management of a water and sewer system. She requested the District Board to consider this option when discussing this matter with the City. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 19, 1996PAGE 324 District Commissioner Greer advised that the District Board should decide whether to move forward with constructing the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant independently, or jointly expand the City's Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant with the City controlling and operating the facility. He expressed concern for not reaching an agreement with the City during the past two years and recommended moving forward with construction of a Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant by the District. A lengthy discussion was held on the savings that would be realized by the City and County with a joint expansion of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. District Commissioner Caster requested Chairman Mathews and Vice-Chairman Barone to meet with two City Council Members to see if an agreement could be reached before moving forward and independently constructing a wastewater treatment plant. County Manager O'Neal advised that $2,000,000 would be saved if a joint effort could be agreed upon between the City and County as co-equal owners. Time has become a critical factor due to the lack of sewer capacity. The District must move forward with a joint City/County agreement or independently construct a Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Consensus: After further discussion, it was the consensus of the District Board for Chairman Mathews and District Commissioner Greer (Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners) to meet with two members of the City Council to see if an agreement could be reached for jointly expanding the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. ADJOURNMENT Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 1:14 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the District Board