1991-07-22 Water & Sewer
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MINUTES OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER & SEWER DISTRICT
JULY 22, 1991
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover
County Water & Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday,
July 22, 1991, at 10:02 o'clock A.M. in the Assembly Room of the
New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington,
North Carolina.
Members present were: District commissioners E. L. Mathews,
Jr.; Fred Retchin; William H. Sutton; Vice-Chairman Robert G.
Greer; Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Sr.; Deputy County Manager,
Mary Gornto; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to the
District Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Barfield called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
District commissioner Retchin MOVED,
Vice-Chairman Greer to approve the minutes of the
of June 3, 1991, and June 17, 1991, as presented.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
SECONDED by
Regular Meeting
Upon vote, the
NON-AGENDA ITEMS 0
Chairman Barfield asked if anyone from the general public
would like to present an item not listed on the Regular Agenda.
No comments or items were presented.
AWARD OF CONTRACT #W&S-90-0256 WITH STATE UTILITY CONTRACTORS,
INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN A PORTION
OF SILVA TERRA
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, stated on May 23, 1991,
the following bids were received and opened for construction of
the sewer collection system in a portion of Silva Terra, the last
area of Phase II. Staff recommends award of the low bid to State
Utility Contractors, Inc.
State Utility Contractors, Inc.
R. H. Moore Company, Inc.
T. A. Loving Company, Inc.
Dellinger, Inc.
$1,181,064.20
$1,223,869.00
$1,408,456.00
$1,495,398.00
County Engineer Blanchard stated including Alternate Bid
Item 6 in the bid package, a net savings of $15,200.00 will be
realized; therefore, the total contract would be $1,165,864.20
Motion: District Commissioner
District commissioner Sutton to
Utility Contractors, Inc. in
including Alternate Bid Item 6.
execute the contract documents.
UNANIMOUSLY.
Retchin MOVED, SECONDED by
award the low bid to State
the amount of $1,165,864.20
The Chairman was authorized to
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
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MINUTES OF JULY 22, 1991
AWARD OF CONTRACT #W&S-91-0173 TO T. A. LOVING COMPANY FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE HOME PARKS
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, stated the following bids
were received and opened on May 23, 1991, for construction of
sewer collection system for mobile home parks. Staff recommends
award of the low bid to T. A. Loving Company in the amount of
$314,142 plus horizontal surveying in the amount of $2,500.
T. A. Loving Company
W. E. Blackmon Construction Co.
state utility Contractors
Dellinger, Inc.
R. H. Moore Company
$314,142.00
$336,311.50
$337,370.00
$340,196.00
$529,755.50
District Commissioner Retchin inquired as to the difference
in the bid and the engineer's estimate of $611,089 compared to
the low bid of $314,142. County Engineer Blanchard stated the
fact that the figure was estimated approximately a year ago and
the recent need for work could explain the cost difference;
however, he would be glad to check into the matter.
Motion: After further discussion, District Commissioner Retchin
MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner sutton to award the low
bid to T. A. Loving Company in the amount of $316,642 which
includes the horizontal surveying bid in the amount of $2,500.
The Chairman was authorized to. execute the contract documents.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVISION OF SEWER TO SUBDIVISIONS
CONSTRUCTED AFTER DESIGN OF THE SEWER SYSTEM BUT BEFORE ADOPTION
OF THE DRY SEWER REQUIREMENT
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, stated the following five
(5) subdivisions in the District fall into the unique situation
of having been constructed in the Phase I area after Phase I was
designed, but before the requirement for dry sewer systems in all
new subdivisions.
Subdivision
Cost Estimate
of Sewer
Construction
Number of Lots
Airlie Place
Sandfiddler Point
Eagle's Nest
Whisper Creek
Boardwalk Avenue
4 lots
5 lots
55 lots
26 lots
9 lots
$ 30,000
$ 40,000
$145,000
$ 80,000
$ 30,000
Consequently, houses in these subdi visions have no
collection system and are constructed with septic tanks even
though sewer is now available. Septic tanks in some of the
subdivisions are beginning to fail and one homeowner has
petitioned the District to provide sewer because of this failure.
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MINUTES OF JULY 22, 1991
Currently, the policy dictates that homeowners in this
situation are required to install the sewer system if problems
occur with septic tanks. After review by Staff as to the cost
involved, the District can pursue any of the following options:
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- Do nothing.
- Require the lot owners to pay all costs.
- Require the District to pay all costs.
- Require the lot owner and the District to
share in the cost.
Also, assuming the lot owners are required to pay all or
part of the costs, how should the costs be allocated- to the lot
owner? (1) Each lot owner pays an equal amount; (2) lot owners
are assessed on a linear street frontage basis; or (3) lot owners
are assessed on a lot area basis. Staff recommends that the
District and lot owners share equally in the cost since these
subdivisions were developed in that period of time after the
design of Phase I when the collection system costs were borne by
the District, but before enactment of dry sewer construction
requirements. If the District takes action to provide sewer to
these subdivisions and the lot owners are expected to share in
the costs, it makes relatively little difference how to allocate
the costs to the individual lot owners since most lots within a
subdi vision tend to have similar dimensions. Corner lots or 0
large lots, however, may be assessed relatively larger amounts if
the assessment is done on a lot area or street frontage basis.
The easiest and most equitable means of assessing costs may be on
an individual lot basis for each subdivision.
Discussion was held on setting a precedent by the District
agreeing to pay the entire costs. Chairman Barfield asked if the
citizens of Sandfiddler Point District are aware of the cost if
the sewer construction is shared. County Engineer Blanchard
stated most of the citizens are familiar with the costs involved
and are quite concerned over the failing septic tanks.
Motion: After further discussion, District Commissioner Mathews
MOVED to allow the current policy to remain unchanged which would
require the property owners to pay for the cost of installing the
sewer system. The floor was opened for discussion.
Dr. Gregory F. SChimizzi, a resident of Sandfiddler Point,
inquired as to why property owners in five subdivisions should be
responsible for payment of installing the main sewer line due to
a quirk in the sewer policies and requested that the County at
least share one-half of the cost. County Engineer Blanchard
stated the developer of Sandfiddler Point chose to install septic
tanks instead of installing the sewer line; therefore, the 0
property owners were not charged this fee; whereas, if the
developer had chosen to install the sewer line the cost of the
home would have increased to cover this charge.
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MINUTES OF JULY 22, 1991
District commissioner Mathews inquired as to the impact on
adjoining property owners when one septic tank failure occurs and
all other septic systems are functioning, and asked if these
persons will be required to connect to the sewer system when it
becomes available? County Attorney Pope stated when the sewer
line is installed, all persons will be notified and required to
connect to the sewer system with a tap assessment fee charged.
Substitute Motion: After discussion of fairness to the property
owners with failure of septic tanks in this situation,
Vice-Chairman Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner
Retchin for the District to pay 50% of the cost for constructing
the sewer collection line on an as needed basis in subdivisions
that were constructed after design of Phase 1, but before
adoption of the. dry sewer system requirement. All agreements are
to be reviewed and approved by the Legal Department.
Chairman Retchin called for a vote on the SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF '~~"';::"2: STREET
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Motion: After discussion, District Commissioner Retchin MOVED,
SECONDED by District Commissioner Mathews to adopt a resolution
accepting the following street rights-of-way for sewer
construction and to authorize the Chairman to execute the
resolution:
Shoals Drive
Trace Drive
Vale Drive
Westwood Drive West -
Bayshore Estates
Bayshore Estates
Bayshore Estates
Westwood Heights
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 3.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: District Commissioner Retchin
District Commissioner Mathews to adjourn.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED, SECONDED by
Upon vote, the MOTION
A.M.
Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 10: 24 0 I clock
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Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board
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