2005-06-06 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 6, 2005
BOOK 3
PAGE 127
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in
Regular Session on Monday, June 6,2005, at 9:35 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 M. 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.
Betty Scott, a resident of Kings Grant, stated that on January 3, 2005, she received a letter from the County
Engineering Department reporting that construction was due to begin and take approximately 270 days. As of yet,
she has not seen any sign of construction. She reported that it would cost approximately $250 million for a
countywide sewer system stating that to date the County and the City have taken in $180 million in water and sewer
fees and she requested that the Board make the completion of this project a high priority.
Mark Cope, a resident of New Hanover County, spoke on the failing septic tanks located in the County and
requested that the Board finish the Kings Grant system.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
District Chairman Caster called for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 16,
2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Kopp MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett, to approve the
minutes of the regular meeting held on May 16, 2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote,
the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR KINGS GRANT SECTION 3 PHASE 2
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that in 2003, New Hanover County awarded contracts for the
construction of gravity sewer within the King's Grant community to three utility contractors. Section 3 of Kings
Grant was awarded to Triangle Paving and Grading in the amount of $2,949,452. Issues developed with the Section
3 contract and as a result, work in this section stopped prior to completion with approximately 63% of the work
completed. In an effort to address changes in the State's oversight of sewer construction, County contracting
practices have been modified. The balance of the work for this section, approximately 22,000 linear feet of gravity
sewer, was bid with a revised contractor performance format.
On April 12, 2005, bids were received for the remaining work within Section 3. The successful bid came
from ES&J in the amount of $2,464,752.10 and represents a substantial increase in construction costs. After a
review of the Kings Grant budget, it was determined that sufficient funds were not available to cover the additional
cost. Staff requests that the Board approve awarding the contract ES&J in the amount of $2,464,752.10 and approve
the associated budget amendment.
District Commissioner Pritchett clarified with County Engineer Thompson that a surety bond was not in
place with Triangle Paving and Grading and the Springview community is included in this project with an estimated
time of completion of nine months.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 6, 2005
BOOK 3
PAGE 128
District Commissioner Davis asked County Engineer Thompson to clarify why Triangle Paving and
Grading stopped working and how a change in contractor benefits the County.
County Engineer Thompson reported that the contractor did not anticipate the scope of the work and the
work did not progress in a timely manner. The benefit to the County will be that the work is done in a timelier
manner. The work that Triangle Paving and Grading did complete was approved and accepted. The requested
amount of $690,000 is for the work yet to be completed.
Commissioner Davis clarified with Finance Director Bruce Shell that the $690,000 transfer to capital
projects for the completion of Kings Grant will be transferred from the Water and Sewer appropriated fund balance
with an approximate balance of $19 million. There will not be an increase in water and sewer bills to cover this
amount.
District Chairman Caster requested direction from the Board.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Kopp MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett, to approve
awarding the contract to ES&J in the amount of $2,464,752.10 for Kings Grant section 3 phase 2 and the associated
budget amendment. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Budget Amendment #2005-52 - Kings Grant Sewer/Water-Sewer Engineering
Adjustment
Water/Sewer:
Appropriated Fund Balance (W&S)
Transfer to Capital Projects
Kings Grant Sewer Capital Project:
Transfer in from Sewer Operating
Capital Project Expense
Debit
Credit
$690,000
$690,000
$690,000
$690,000
Explanation: To appropriate fund balance in Sewer Operating Fund to award bid to ES&J for Kings Grant-
Section 3-B.
Additional Item by District Commissioner Greer
District Commissioner Greer stated that in a recent newspaper article the reported number of variances that
New Hanover County requested from the State is misleading. New Hanover County has more water and sewer
customers than most municipalities and very few counties have any water and sewer customers. Also, New Hanover
County is located on flat land and the coast, which makes the process more difficult.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, District Chairman Caster requested a motion to adjourn.
Motion: District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Kopp, to adjourn the
meeting. Upon vote, THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
District Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 9:54 p.rn.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the District Board