1996-10-07 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 7, 1996PAGE 330
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County
Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, October
7, 1996, at 8:31 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.; Chairman E. L.
Mathews, Jr.; Deputy County Manager, Andrew J. Atkinson, County
Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F.
Harrell.
Vice-Chairman Sandra Barone was absent.
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.
No items were presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to approve the minutes of the Regular Meetings
of August 19, 1996, and September 3, 1996, as presented by the
Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS
FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster
District Commissioner Greer
District Commissioner Sisson
Chairman Mathews
Absent: Vice-Chairman Barone
CONSIDERATION OF CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR BRANDYWINE SEWER
PROJECT
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported Staff was
instructed to prepare a recommendation for funding the Brandywine
Sewer Project at a total cost of $250,000 with $10,000 for
surveying and $240,000 for the cost of constructing the project.
Staff recommends transferring $100,000 from the Kirkland Sewer
Project and transferring $150,000 from the Water and Sewer
Appropriated Fund Balance. The total project cost includes $50,000
for extending the Timber Creek force main to eliminate repumping of
sewage. The transfer of funds was possible because the actual bids
received came in under the projected cost.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to approve the project, Capital Project
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 7, 1996PAGE 331
Ordinance, and the following Budget Amendment to proceed with the
Brandywine Sewer Project. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS
FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster
District Commissioner Greer
District Commissioner Sisson
Chairman Mathews
Absent: Vice-Chairman Barone
A copy of the Project Ordinance is hereby incorporated as a
part of the minutes and is contained in W&S Exhibit Book II, Page
17.
#97-10 Brandywine Sewer Capital Project
Debit Credit
Brandywine Sewer Capital Project
Transfer from Kirkland Capital Project $100,000
Transfer from Sewer Operating Fund 150,000
Capital Project Expense $250,000
Sewer Operating Fund
Appropriate Fund Balance $150,000
Transfer to Sewer Capital Project $150,000
Kirkland Capital Project
Capital Project Expense $100,000
Transfer to Brandywine Capital Project $100,000
Purpose: To establish the budget for Brandywine Sewer Capital
Project according to the Capital Project Ordinance.
APPROVAL OF SEWAGE TREATMENT CONTRACT #96-0319 BETWEEN THE CITY OF
WILMINGTON AND THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported this item had been
discussed at meetings held on May 6, 1996, May 20, 1996, June 3,
1996, June 17, 1996, and August 19, 1996. He advised that Section
10.5 of the original agreement requiring the creation of a single
entity or coordinated approach to the provision of water and sewer
had been removed from the contract.
District Commissioner Sisson commented on the clause being
removed from the agreement and inquired as to whether a committee
comprised of two City Council Members and two County Commissioners
would be established for development of a specific plan to unite
all City and County water and sewer services?
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 7, 1996PAGE 332
District Commissioner Greer reported the Board of County
Commissioners adopted a resolution on the Consent Agenda to
establish the committee. He advised the Wilmington City Council
was to consider and adopt a similar resolution at its next meeting.
Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Caster to approve the contract between the City of
Wilmington and the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District to
jointly construct the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon
vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster
District Commissioner Greer
District Commissioner Sisson
Chairman Mathews
Absent: Vice-Chairman Barone
A copy of the contract is on file in the Legal Department.
DISCUSSION OF SEWER DISCHARGE SITE INTO THE NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR
RIVER
Commissioner Caster inquired as to whether the discharge into
the Northeast Cape Fear River was meeting State standards? He
advised that after discussion with a member of the team monitoring
the site, it appears that test results are mixed with the discharge
being in compliance to State standards at one testing and out of
compliance at the next testing. He emphasized the importance of
being truthful and stated if a problem does exist at the discharge
site, it should be corrected.
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported during periods of
elevated flow, the discharge does not meet State standards. The
plant was designed to handle a certain amount of flow, and when the
flow exceeds this limit, problems are experienced. A condition of
the new NPDES permit issued by the State requires weekly testing of
the discharge site. Staff has been testing the site twice a week
with copies of the test results being forwarded to the Health
Department and State officials. A contract is being prepared to
reverse approximately one-half of the flow from the wastewater
treatment plant to the City's plant within the next 30 to 60 days.
This transfer of flow should resolve the discharge problems.
District Commissioner Sisson inquired as to whether there was
potential for overloading the plant with continued development of
the Vision Software industrial complex?
County Engineer Blanchard reported if the County allows too
much development to occur, the wastewater treatment plant will
become overloaded. He stressed the importance of curtailing the
amount of flow to the plant with future development. In order to
alleviate overflow problems during storms, Staff is in the process
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 7, 1996PAGE 333
of placing sewer guards in manholes to keep stormwater from going
into the sewer lines. It appears FEMA will fund this project
through the mitigation process. In new developments, sewer guards
are being required.
District Commissioner Sisson commented on the daily failure of
septic tanks in the unincorporated county and recommended a
complete review of the future phases of the sewer system so these
areas can be served before expanding into undeveloped areas.
Discussion was held on the many challenges that will have to
be addressed by the new members of the District Board. District
Commissioner Caster recommended itemizing these issues and meeting
with the new members immediately after the November election to
provide background information on these major concerns.
District Commissioner Greer agreed and directed the Deputy
County Manager to work with the County Manager in scheduling a
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS
FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster
District Commissioner Greer
District Commissioner Sisson
Chairman Mathews
Absent: Vice-Chairman Barone
Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 8:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board