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2005-01-24 Water & Sewer NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3 REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 24, 2005 PAGE 106 ASSEMBLY The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, January 24, 2005, at 11:50 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: District Chairman William A. Caster; District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; District Commissioner Robert G. Greer; District Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Deputy Clerk to the District Board, Teresa P. Elmore District Vice-Chairman William A. Kopp, Jr. was absent. District Chairman Caster called the meeting to order. NON-AGENDA ITEMS District Chairman Caster announced that time had been reserved for anyone from the public to present an item that was not listed on the Regular Agenda. He requested all persons to limit their remarks to three minutes. No items were presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES District Chairman Caster called for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 10, 2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. otion: M District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 10, 2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 TO 0. CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF WATER AND SEWER PROJECT ON DARDEN ROAD District Chairman Caster stated that the Board received information from property owners and staff at the January 10, 2005 meeting concerning problems with the water and sewer project on Darden Road. He requested an update from County Engineer Greg Thompson. County Engineer Thompson reported that the State upheld its decision and will not grant a variance for the sewer project on Darden Road. The County will need to move forward in re-laying the sewer lines, which may take up to four months to complete. District Chairman Caster said that he discussed the matter with Rick Shiver, Aquifer Protection Supervisor with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and State Representative Carolyn Justice, but was unable to get authorization to use the current system. The County is working with the surety company and will take the lead in replacing the system on Darden Road. In discussion of who is responsible for the problems, County Engineer Thompson explained that the quality of work is consistent with other sewer systems in the County, but the State’s position changed in the amount of discretion that the project engineer has in certifying the sewer’s integrity with compliance to the permit. District Chairman Caster explained that the work was not done according to the specification of the engineer who was contracted to supervise the job. The County’s engineer for the project, McKim and Creed, certified that the system would work, but the State will not approve it. The sewer lines did not meet the required drop from the start to the end by eight inches spread over the length of 1,000 feet. The County may need to oversee the project to make sure it is done right; but some liability might be created for the County. County Engineer Thompson explained that the State is not interfering with the County’s ability to move forward in getting the lines reconstructed. The surety company has honored its warranty obligation; and McKim and Creed is NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3 REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 24, 2005 PAGE 107 correcting the original construction documents and has given some preliminary information to the contractor to speed up the process. It may take a while to accumulate all the data for the new contractor, who wants to have a better understanding of the work before he gives a price for the job. Regarding questions about the County’s responsibility, County Engineer Thompson cautioned that the County needs to maintain a balance when supervising a project. If the County gets involved to the point of directing contractors’ work, then the County assumes some liability. District Chairman Caster directed staff to expedite the project with the surety company and contractor as quickly as possible. Jon Mason, the developer of the White Oak Apartments, objected to waiting another four months for the completion of the project and suggested the County offer the contractor incentives to finish the project as soon as possible. He said that the contractor is ready to start the work and is waiting for a signed contract. District Commissioner Greer requested another update at the next meeting to make sure the work is getting done. CONSIDERATION OF ADDING A BACKFLOW SPECIALIST POSITION County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that the Federal Safe Drinking Act (PL93-523), the North Carolina State Administrative Code (15A NCAC 08C), and the North Carolina State Building Code (Volume II) has required that New Hanover County create and enforce an ordinance with regard to a Cross Connection Control Program for the County's public potable water supply. Administration of this ordinance will require a new position to monitor all backflow prevention. The on-going inspection process will need a certified inspector for the County’s infrastructure. He said that a new division for the County's water ordinance is currently being developed and will be incorporated with other changes under review by the Water Development Task Force. Upon completion of the revisions, a final revised ordinance will be presented to the Board for adoption. Motion : District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Chairman Caster, to approve a Backflow Specialist position (LT –06) and to approve the associated budget amendment to cover the cost of the new position for FY 2004-05. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 TO 0. Budget Amendment #05-0134 – Water and Sewer AdjustmentDebitCredit Appropriated Fund Balance: Appropriated Fund Balance$19,694 Water and Sewer Finance: Salaries and Wages$15,647 Social Security Taxes$ 1,192 Medical Insurance Expense$ 2,808 Long-term Disability Insurance$ 47 Explanation: To appropriate Water and Sewer Fund Balance for the Backflow Specialist position for the remainder of the FY. FY 05-06 cost for the position will be $46,418. ADJOURNMENT District Chairman Caster called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion: District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to adjourn the meeting. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED 4 TO 0. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3 REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 24, 2005 PAGE 108 District Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 12:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Teresa P. Elmore Deputy Clerk to the District Board