1996-09-16 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16, 1996PAGE 326
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County
Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday,
September 16, 1996, at 11:29 A.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 asked if anyone from the public would like to
present an item not listed on the Water and Sewer Agenda.
No items were presented.
CONSIDERATION OF WATER AND SEWER ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 15,
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, ARTICLE II, WASTE WATER COLLECTION AND
TREATMENT
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, requested the District Board
to approve an ordinance to amend Section 15-90, by adding
Subsection 5 to read as follows:
(5)Metal Clean-out Boxes Required: All sewer clean-outs, non-
public and/or private property, shall be protected with a cast
iron clean-out box. The clean-out stack shall include
threaded clean-out cap, or other approved device, under the
cast iron clean-out box. Provided, however, in lieu of a
metal clean-out box, a twelve inch (12") square concrete pad
around the clean-out, with a recessed plug, may be used.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to approve the ordinance amending Chapter 15,
Water Supply System, Article II, by adding Section 15-90 as read
and presented by the County Engineer. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the ordinance is hereby incorporated as a part of
the minutes and is contained in W&S Exhibit Book II, Page 17.
The ordinance is on file in the Clerk's office and will be
codified into the New Hanover County Code.
REQUEST FOR SEWER ALLOCATION FOR ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT DISCHARGING TO
THE SOUTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, reported the County's
sewer flow of 4.4 million gallons per day into the Southside
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16, 1996PAGE 327
Wastewater Treatment Plant was closely approaching its capacity at
5.25 million gallons per day. Charts and drafts were presented
reflecting the figures that were projected based upon the opening
of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant; however, construction
of this plant has not been resolved. There is a remaining capacity
of only 808,000 gallons, which will service 2,800 residential
customers. This capacity should be utilized within 18 to 24 months
if the current building permit trend continues at approximately
1,500 new units per year.
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, requested the District Board
to authorize the Technical Review Committee to require the
following note to be placed on all new preliminary subdivision
plats:
"This subdivision will be served by County sewer. Final plat
approval of sections of this subdivision may be withheld if,
in the opinion of the County Engineer, adequate sewer capacity
does not exist."
District Commissioner Greer recommended changing the word,
"does" to "may" at the end of the last sentence.
Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to authorize the Technical Review Committee to
require the following note to be placed on all new preliminary
subdivision plats: "This subdivision will be served by County
Sewer. Final plat approval of sections of this subdivision may be
withheld if, in the opinion of the County Engineer, adequate sewer
capacity may not exist." Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION OF APPEAL OF WASTEWATER FACILITY FEE ON SELF-SERVICE
LAUNDRIES
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported Section 15-121(b)
of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer Ordinance stipulates that
the facility fee must be based on the daily sewer flows as
published by the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Management. Self-service laundries are based on 500 gallons per
machine per day. The amount charged would be $3.75 per gallon or
$1,875 per washing machine. After contacting several cities about
the rate charged, Staff recommends reducing the sewer usage of a
commercial washing machine from 500 gallons per day to 250 gallons
per day.
Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Greer to amend the Water and Sewer Ordinance to reduce
the sewer usage of a commercial washing machine from 500 gallons
per day to 250 gallons per day. The Legal Department was requested
to prepare an ordinance to be considered at the next meeting. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16, 1996PAGE 328
CONSIDERATION OF SEWER LINE EXTENSION FOR BRANDYWINE SUBDIVISION
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported the residents of
Brandywine had requested the District to extend the sewer line
around Brandywine Circle. This area is currently not served by
County sewer, but a sewer line is now being constructed to the
Ogden Elementary School. The estimated cost of the project is
$190,000 and money will not be available for the project until 1999
as outlined in the Master Plan.
District Commissioner Sisson commented on the sewer line being
constructed to the school and recommended allowing the residents of
Brandywine Subdivision to connect to the line to assist the
residents with malfunctioning septic tanks and avoid having to tear
up the streets more than one time.
County Engineer Blanchard responded the only advantage would
be to assist the residents of Brandywine with malfunctioning septic
tanks because the line will not serve any other area.
Ms. Pat Morgan, a resident of Brandywine, reported
approximately 50% of the residents cannot flush their toilets.
Seepage has been running in yards and in order for the residents to
continue to live in their homes, the sewer line extension is
necessary. Septic tank problems occurred before Hurricane Fran,
and the additional rainfall created a more critical situation.
District Commissioner Greer asked if the residents would be
willing to pay a $400 hook-up fee per residence instead of the $200
fee when sewer is extended into an area as outlined under the Sewer
Master Plan?
Ms. Morgan responded that residents would have no problem with
paying a $400 hook-up fee.
County Manager O'Neal asked if there were other projects in
preliminary stages that could be rearranged to accommodate this
project?
County Engineer Blanchard responded he would be glad to check
into rearranging other projects and report back to the Board.
Motion: Vice-Chairman Barone MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to direct staff to see if another project could
be rearranged to allow sewer to be extended to Brandywine and
prepare a recommendation to be presented at a future meeting. The
recommendation should reflect the cost of the project and the fact
that a $400 hook-up fee will be charged to the property owners if
the project is finally approved. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 16, 1996PAGE 329
ADDITIONAL ITEM - CONSIDERATION OF REVISIONS TO CONTRACT WITH
CONOCO, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WRIGHTSBORO WATER SYSTEM
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported Conoco, Inc. has
requested the following revisions to the contract for construction
of the Wrightsboro Water System:
(1)Remove the provision stating that Conoco, Inc. would be
responsible for operation costs incurred by the District in
excess of user fees. Conoco, Inc. has requested the District
to assume any liability of operational costs after the water
system has been transferred to the District.
(2)Remove the requirement that Conoco, Inc. has to provide
builder's risk insurance and a performance bond. Conoco is
self-insured and as a subsidiary of du Pont de Nemours has
sufficient resources to fulfill any contractual and tort
liability.
(3)Alter reimbursement arrangements for oversizing the water
tank, to specify a maximum reimbursement of $280,000 to be
paid by December 31, 2006, with specific customer water
connection charges identified.
County Engineer Blanchard advised that after a review of the
revisions by the Legal Department and County Engineering
Department, the changes were acceptable.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to approve the contract modifications as
requested by Conoco, Inc. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Greer to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 11:45 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board