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