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