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1996-10-21 Water & Sewer NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 21, 1996PAGE 334 ASSEMBLY The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, October 21, 1996, at 1:36 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 District 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 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 September 16, 1996, and October 7, 1996, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. APPROVAL OF NEW POSITIONS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT County Manager O'Neal reported New Hanover County owns 110 pump stations and twenty-six well sites. Presently the District has two Utility Mechanics to perform the maintenance on the pump stations. As these stations grow older, more maintenance will be required. In order to provide two employees free time without being on call over weekends and during vacations, the County Engineer has requested two new Utility Mechanic positions and one Wastewater Treatment Plant operator position. District Commissioner Caster asked if the maintenance service could be contracted? County Manager O'Neal responded that Staff had not pursued contracting out the service; however, he felt contracting a service that requires emergency response would be costly. Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer to approve two (2) new Utility Mechanic positions, one (1) Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator position and the associated Budget Amendment. District Commissioner Caster requested the County Manager to pursue contracting out the maintenance service in lieu of hiring new employees. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 21, 1996PAGE 335 Vice-Chairman Barone agreed and stated with employee benefits being so costly she felt privatizing the service could be more cost effective in the long term. She advised the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority provides all services through contracts with only two permanent employees. County Engineer Blanchard offered to check into the cost of contracting out the service with a recommendation being presented to the District Board at a future date. Chairman Mathews called for a vote on the MOTION to approve the new positions as requested. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: District Commissioner Greer District Commissioner Sisson Chairman Mathews Voting Nay: District Commissioner Caster Vice-Chairman Barone Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to request Staff to check into contracting out the maintenance service to determine the cost so that privatization of this service could be considered in the future. County Manager O'Neal expressed concern for filling permanent positions when the service could be contracted out in the future, and he suggested using temporary help until a recommendation could be presented to the Board on the cost of privatizing the service. District Commissioner Sisson stressed the importance of finding a company with an excellent track record for emergency response before considering any type of contract. Motion: After further discussion, District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to RESCIND THE MOTION approving the three new positions as recommended by the County Engineer. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster District Commissioner Greer Vice-Chairman Barone Chairman Mathews Voting Nay: District Commissioner Sisson Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Barone to authorize the County Manager to pursue privatizing the maintenance service and use temporary help during the interim period of time. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 21, 1996PAGE 336 AWARD OF BID #97-0070 (CONTRACT #97-0070) TO MOTOROLA, INC. FOR TELEMETRY SYSTEM UPGRADE AND THE PURCHASE OF REMOTE TELEMETRY UNITS County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, requested the Board to adopt a resolution to award a bid to Motorola, Inc., the only bidder, in the amount of $193,959 to upgrade the telemetry system. Discussion was held on why the system should be upgraded. County Engineer Blanchard explained the upgrade would change the system to a Windows based program that would better retrieve information at each pump station site. The additional remote telemetry units will be placed on all new pump stations and wells. With the proposed upgrade, this system will be one of the best monitoring systems on the market. The cost of this upgraded system at current prices would be over $600,000. Funding was included in the FY 1996-97 Budget for the upgrade. District Commissioner Greer inquired as to whether the City had a similar telemetry system? County Engineer Blanchard responded the City was in the process of bidding for a similar system; however, the City currently uses an older system with less monitoring capabilities. Motion: Vice-Chairman Barone MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Sisson to adopt the resolution awarding the bid to Motorola, Inc. in the amount of $193,959 to upgrade the telemetry system, purchase remote telemetry units, and authorize the Chairman to execute the necessary contract documents. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A copy of the resolution is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in W&S Exhibit Book II, Page 17. A copy of the contract is on file in the Legal Department. ADDITIONAL ITEM VOTE RESCINDED ON AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF WILMINGTON TO JOINTLY CONSTRUCT THE NORTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT District Commissioner Greer reported that Chairman Mathews, County Manager O'Neal and he had been meeting with Mayor Don Betz, Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Moore, and City Manager Mary Gornto, to work out an agreement for joint construction of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. After several meetings, an acceptable resolution and contract were prepared with the understanding that both governing bodies would consider and adopt the documents at their next regular meetings. The Board of County Commissioners approved the documents as proposed and the City Council approved the agreement for joint construction of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant with an amendment to the resolution, which changed the intent of the document. The resolution was prepared for the purpose of appointing a committee to develop a specific plan for NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 21, 1996PAGE 337 uniting all City and County water and sewer services with an interim report to be presented to both governing bodies on or before May 1, 1997, and an "organization" instituted on or before December 1, 1997. The word, organization, was changed to plan. The intent of the resolution was to form some type of entity other than the City or County to operate a unified water and sewer service. District Commissioner Sisson noted this change was in direct conflict with discussion being held by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County Ad Hoc Committee on Urban Planning & Growth. He strongly objected to the politics involved with the handling of this issue and expressed regret for the lack of concern shown to the citizens of Wilmington and New Hanover County by the Council's action. District Commissioner Greer agreed and stated both City and County taxpayers will lose approximately three million dollars. The County will fall behind in wastewater treatment because of the time required to construct a new plant. In his opinion, the City Council desires to completely control the water and sewer operation with the County funding a large portion of the operation. Further discussion was held on the possibility of approaching the City Council again to see if an agreement could be reached. District Commissioner Greer advised that after conversations with Mayor Betz and another member of the City Council he felt the City was not willing to consider establishing an entity to operate a unified water and sewer service. Motion: After further discussion, Vice-Chairman Barone MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer to rescind the agreement approved for the joint construction of the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant and authorize the County to proceed with constructing a new Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 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 1:55 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the District Board