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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-08-08 Water & Sewer NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND DISTRICT BOARDBOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 8, 1994PAGE 181 ASSEMBLY The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water & Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, August 8, 1994, at 10:41 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 Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Chairman Mathews called the meeting to order. NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Mathews inquired as to whether anyone from the general public would like to present an item not listed on the Regular Agenda. No items were presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Sisson to approve the minutes of the Regular Meetings of July 4, 1994, July 18, 1994, and Work Session of July 18, 1994, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ADOPTION OF GREASE REMOVAL ORDINANCE BY A MAJORITY VOTE ON THE FIRST READING - SECOND READING WILL BE REQUIRED ON AUGUST 22, 1994 Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, reported the District Board of County Commissioners reviewed the proposed ordinance in December, 1993. During this period of time, the Engineering staff has been developing a program where staff is actually working with restaurants to monitor pump outs. It is now felt that staff is able to make proper judgement calls as to whether a restaurant can delay a pump out for 90 days instead of every 30 days. This type of system will allow more flexibility to the County and will not penalize restaurants that do not use large amounts of grease in the preparation of foods. Also, under Section C, the user will have to maintain written records of trap maintenance for two years. A copy of the invoice for trap cleaning or similar suitable records of when the trap is cleaned will have to be forwarded to the County Engineer or his designee. This section of the ordinance will save hours of staff time by not having to visit each restaurant to acquire a receipt for each time the trap is cleaned. The City of Wilmington adopted a similar ordinance with the City requiring written records for three years. Chairman Mathews asked how the County is currently disposing of grease? NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND DISTRICT BOARDBOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 8, 1994PAGE 182 Assistant County Manager Weaver reported the haulers are still able to find land disposal sites; however, these sites may become unavailable, therefore, the County has investigated other alternatives. One alternative is to utilize the services of a composting company in Duplin County for grease disposal. Under this agreement, the company would place tankers in New Hanover County with the haulers being required to dump the grease in the tankers. Once the tankers are filled, the company would carry the tankers to Duplin County and incorporate them in its composting process. Another alternative is the possibility of using the digester at the City's Southside Waste Water Treatment Plant. The engineering firm of McKim and Creed is checking into this option. District Commissioner Greer commented on New Hanover County having no way to dispose of grease at the present time and recommended removing Section C, which requires written records of grease trap maintenance, until the County has a method of disposal. Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by Vice- Chairman Barone to adopt Sections A and B of the ordinance and eliminate Section C. The floor was opened for discussion. County Attorney Copley requested the MOTION to include the proposed change in Line 10 of Section A which is to change the word "director" to "County Engineer". Amended Motion: District Commissioner Greer AMENDED HIS MOTION to include a change in the word, "director" to "County Engineer" and adopt Sections A and B with elimination of Section C. The AMENDED MOTION WAS SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Barone. The floor was opened for discussion. County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported Section C is the most important portion of the ordinance because this section requires the maintenance of the grease traps which keep grease out of the sewer. District Commissioner Greer inquired as to what is being done now to keep grease out of the sewer system? County Engineer Blanchard responded there is no regulation in place to require restaurants to clean grease traps. Staff is currently begging owners to properly maintain grease traps to avoid grease from going into the sewer. District Commissioner Greer reported the County has been dealing with this problem for years; however, he does not feel the County should impose these requirements when the County cannot dispose of the grease. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND DISTRICT BOARDBOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 8, 1994PAGE 183 District Commissioner Sisson commented on the proposed ordinance being flexible enough to allow many restaurants to pump out grease traps every 90 days instead of every 30 days and stated adoption of this ordinance will require restaurants using large amounts of grease to be properly maintained. District Commissioner Greer recommended incorporating just the first sentence of Section C, which reads as follows: "The user shall maintain written records of trap maintenance for two years." County Engineer Blanchard reported without the entire section, the Engineering staff will have to visit restaurants to obtain the written records. A lengthy discussion was held on the meetings that have been held on grease disposal between the City and County. District Commissioner Greer reported grease can be carried to the incinerator for burning; however, the County will become responsible for disposing of the water and other items. After going back and forth between the City and County, no solution has ever been reached. In his opinion, adoption of this ordinance will create a problem for the County. Chairman Mathews called for a vote on the motion to approve Section A as amended and Section B of the ordinance with elimination of Section C. Upon vote, the AMENDED MOTION DID NOT CARRY AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: District Commissioner Greer Vice-Chairman Barone Voting Nay: District Commissioner Caster District Commissioner Sisson Chairman Mathews Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster to approve the ordinance as presented including amending Section A to change the word, director, to County Engineer. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Voting Aye: District Commissioner Caster District Commissioner Sisson Vice-Chairman Barone Chairman Mathews Voting Nay: District Commissioner Greer Due to not receiving a UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, a SECOND READING will be required at the Regular Meeting of August 22, 1994. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND DISTRICT BOARDBOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 8, 1994PAGE 184 AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH SELECTING AN ENGINEERING FIRM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS FOR THE OGDEN INTERCEPTOR County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, reported on the need to proceed with selecting an engineering firm to design the Ogden Interceptor, which needs to be constructed along with the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant, because the estimated time of construction is two years. The interceptor is the line that will transport the waste water to the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant. Vice-Chairman Barone inquired as to whether a site has been selected for construction of the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant, and will this site be selected before proceeding with the Ogden Interceptor? County Engineer Blanchard reported a site has not been selected, but staff is in the process of looking at three suitable sites. The engineer would not be authorized to proceed with the Ogden Interceptor project until a site has been selected for the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant. Motion: Vice-Chairman Barone MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Sisson to authorize the Engineering staff to proceed with the selection of an engineering firm for development of plans, bids, etc. for the Ogden Interceptor. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Discussion was held on the funding source to be used for expansion of the Sewer System. County Manager O'Neal presented the following funding options and requested the District Board to consider one or a combination of options to generate revenue for expansion of the Sewer System: (1) adopt a Water & Sewer District Tax; (2) increase the Facility Impact Fee; (3) Increase User Rates for sewer; (4) adopt an additional 1/2 cent sales tax; and (5) fund the District through the General Fund. District Commissioner Greer recommended funding the first two projects, the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant and Ogden Interceptor, from the additional sales tax revenue and from fees collected next year. District Commissioner Sisson stated, for the record, he feels future expansion of the Sewer System should be on a pay-as-you-go basis. County Manager O'Neal commented on the $500,000 funding shortfall annually and stated staff would be more comfortable with some funding mechanism identified for expansion of the entire system in order to avoid a shortfall in the future phasing of the system. NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND DISTRICT BOARDBOOK 2 REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 8, 1994PAGE 185 Assistant County Manager Weaver stated the plan presented by the Sewer Task Force will allow for expansion of the Sewer System gradually through the various projects. The District Board may wish to grant authority to proceed with the proposed plan with construction of the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Ogden Interceptor with a commitment that general fund revenues will be used if a shortfall occurs in future years. A lengthy discussion was held on accepting the plan. Assistant County Manager Weaver reported the plan was developed after a careful review of the different funds that are presently available for constructing the Sewer System including the existing fund balance for the Water & Sewer District as well as the revenue generated from the collection of facility fees. There will be a funding shortfall if the plan is implemented as scheduled. In the first two or three years, the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant and Ogden Interceptor will have to be constructed to serve this area. If these projects are not completed by 1997, growth may have to be restricted in the northeastern part of the County. It is hoped that sales tax revenue will increase more than projected. District Commissioner Greer recommended proceeding with construction of the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant and Ogden Interceptor with funding being determined at a later date once these projects are in the process of being completed. County Manager O'Neal expressed concern for the District Board moving forward with a plan and not specifically identifying the revenue source when an annual shortfall of at least $500,000 has been projected. Consensus: After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to move forward with construction of the Northside Waste Water Treatment Plant and Ogden Interceptor with no decision being made on funding beyond this point. ADJOURNMENT Motion: District Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by Vice- Chairman Barone to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 11:06 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the District Board