2005-02-07 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 7, 2005PAGE 109
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular
Session on Monday, February 7, 2005, at 6:20 p.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 Vice-Chairman William A. Kopp, Jr.;
District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; District Commissioner Robert G. Greer; District Commissioner Nancy H.
Pritchett; County Manager Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the District Board, Sheila L.
Schult.
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.
Mark Cope, a resident of New Hanover County, spoke on the 16,000 homes in the County that do not have
sewer service and stated his concern that improper sewer services can cause health problems.
Betty Scott, a resident of Kings Grant, stated her concern that 16,000 homes in the County are still without
sewer service and requested that the Board make the completion of these projects a high priority.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF WATER AND SEWER PROJECT ON DARDEN ROAD
District Chairman Caster stated the Board received information from property owners and staff at the January
10, 2005 and January 24, 2005 meeting concerning problems with the water and sewer project on Darden Road.
The County has been working closely with the surety company and has received three bids for completion of
the project to replace the sewer line. The bids range from a low bid of $128,000 to a high bid of $295,000.
County Engineer Thompson reported that County Staff is working with the surety company to contract with
one of these contractors and is currently verifying bonding, insurance and licensing issues. The surety company will
then contract with one of the contractors for completion of the project. Once a contract is in place the actual work will
take approximately thirty days to complete with a project completion date within six to eight weeks.
County Engineer Thompson provided the following report on the Middle Sound/Darden Road Sewer Project:
•Design and Construction
documents contained errors
contractor failed to notify County of errors
sewer lines were installed at flatter slopes than permitted
contractor defaulted on contract
surety required to assume completion
•Building permits were issued prior to sewer availability
NHC ordinance allows for permit issuance 120 days prior to availability
no guarantees for property owner.
•Stricter oversight on sewer programs by NCDEHNR
previous lack of oversight of sewer program by NCDEHNR
NCDEHNR now sets allowable tolerances rather than design engineer
•Policy Recommendations
120 day letter not sufficient
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 7, 2005PAGE 110
consider alternatives to installation at minimum grade/update Sewer Master Plan
review process for private projects in county’s name
operational permit pending DEHNR approval
•Recommendation Benefits
Darden Road issue would not repeated;
Anomalies on addressing system would be resolved for 911, etc
Conformity with current NC regulatory agencies.
District Commissioner Greer requested another update at the next meeting to make sure the work is getting
done.
ADJOURNMENT
District Chairman Caster called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion:
District Vice-Chairman Kopp MOVED, SECONDED by District Chairman Caster, to adjourn the meeting.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
District Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the District Board