1990-07-31 Special Meeting
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, JULY 31, 1990
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Special
Session on Tuesday, July 31, 1990, at 9:00 o'clock A.M. in the
Conference Room of the Administration Building at the Steam Plant
located at 3002 Highway 421, North, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Robert G. Greer; E. L.
Mathews, Jr.; Nolan O'Neal; Chairman Fred Retchin; County
Manager, Allen O'Neal; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk
to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
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Vice-Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Sr. was absent.
Chairman Retchin called the meeting to order.
STATUS REPORT OF THE STEAM PLANT EXPANSION
Dr. Stanton M. Peters, Consulting Engineer for the project,
presented a status report on the Steam Plant expansion and stated
he is happy to report that all major contracts have been awarded
within the projected budget. He requested the Director of
Finance, Andrew J. Atkinson, to present an updated flow chart of
revenues and expenditures on the expansion project.
Director of Finance, Andrew J. Atkinson, presented a report
on the Steam Plant Expansion Project, reflecting revenues,
expenditures, and change orders as of July 27, 1990. He stated
only six change orders have been submitted and that the project
is well within the allocated budget.
A copy of the financial report is contained in Exhibit Book
XVIII, Page 27.
Discussion was held on new air and water emission standards.
Dr. Peters stated modifications of the existing Steam Plant were .
included in the project in order to comply with new EPA
regulations. He commented on Senate Bill 111 mandating a 25%
reduction of the waste stream by 1993 and emphasized the
importance of accurate records stating the County will need the
cooperation of the,City of Wilmington and other recyclers in the
community for accurate reporting of recyclable materials.
Discussion was held on the sale of steam. Dr. Peters stated
public utility regulations prohibit the County from constructing
distribution lines across property lines; however, agreements can
be negotiated among property owners. He also commented on the
fact that Carolina Power & Light Company provides standby power
to companies who are generating a portion of their power;
therefore, CP&L can charge 80% of the facility's standby charge
as a demand charge which does not encourage companies to purchase
steam for generation of power.
Dr. Peters discussed and reviewed the following contracts:
Estimated Contract
Description Contractor Cost Cost
Boiler Stoker Volund $7,000,000 $5,949,500
Air Pollution Control United McGill $1,262,000 $1,468,700 .
Stack Warren Engin $ 650,000 $ 483,000
Air Pollution Modif. United McGill $1,000,000 $1,342,500
Turbine Generator Coppus Murra $1,000,000 $ 981,818
Steam Condensers BASCO $ 200,000 $ 184,547
Cooling Tower BAC Pritchard $ 165,000 $ 166,000
Shredder Shredding System $ 171,000 $ 139,500
Boiler Tubes Riley Stoker $2,300,000 $ 562,800
Boiler Modifications Sam English $1,881,427
Boiler Inspection Weigel Eng. $ 96,000
Water Treatment Culligan $ 220,000 $ 281,350
Elect. Switchgear I Tennesco $ 290,000 $ 125,200
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, JULY 31, 1990 (CONTINUED)
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Elect. switchgear II G & W Supply $ 195,709
Instrumentation Forney Inter. $1,100,000 $ 976,196
Residue Conveyors Beaumont Birch $ 518,000 $ 600,560
Crane Modification P & H $ 170,000 $ 139,280
Pumps Tencarva $ 197,800 $ 152,800
NOX Control NALCO/Fuel Tech $ 347,400
Feedwater Heaters NUTECH/Crane $ 58,000 $ 29,607
Administration Bldg. All-Span System $ 103,680 $ 126,820
Bldg. Modifications SMC $ 264,624
Site Work & Fnd. I Leader Const. $ 810,329 $ 976,455
. Site Work Fnd.& Struct.Clancy & Theys $3,000,000 $1,647,840
Mechanical Work Blue Ridge $1,379,180 $7,741,915
Electrical Work Eldeco $ 800,000 $ 686,997
Discussion was held on the maintenance of the boilers.
Chairman Retchin commented on downtime for maintenance and
inquired as to how long the new boiler, modified boiler, and
existing boiler can continuously operate without maintenance.
Dr. Peters stated the existing boilers have 2 inch tubes set on 4
1/2 inch centers which create a small gas passage and require
maintenance every three months; whereas, the new boiler contains
2 inch tubes set on 6 inch centers which creates a larger gas
passage and requires maintenance every six months. Director of
Resource Recovery, Troy Flanagan, stated the existing boiler
requires maintenance every three weeks with a shutdown on
weekends for performance of the maintenance. Dr. Peters stated
the amount of downtime will be greatly improved through
utilization of the new and modified boiler.
Chairman Retchin inquired as to the annual cost for
maintenance of the expanded facility. Dr. Peters stated he would
prepare a report defining annual maintenance cost within the next
month.
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Discussion was held on the new boiler. Dr. Peters stated
the boiler has been constructed and will be shipped from Denmark
on August 5, 1990, and arrive at the State Ports Authority on
August, 20, 1990. He invited the Commissioners to visit the
plant when the pieces of the boilers are received and physically
placed on site.
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Discussion was held on the instrumentation and control
systems. The computer system will consist of 4 inch video touch
screens with no keyboards. Operators will make changes by touch;
for example, if a pump should be turned on, the screen will
display a picture of the pump, with a window opening and
displaying various instructions. The operator will touch "start"
at which time the color of the pump will change, the amount of
electric current being utilized will be displayed as well as the
flow materials. County Manager O'Neal inquired as to the
securi ty of the computer program. Dr. Peters emphasized the
importance of establishing a control room allowing only
authorized personnel in the area and stated the program will have
limits placed on all entries into the computer. In the control
room a video screen will be dedicated to each boiler and one
screen to the plant. If one system should fail, the control can
be transferred to another unit. A control unit will also be
placed in the Plant Manager's office for continual monitoring of
units throughout the plant plus logging daily activities. A
security system will be implemented that will require every
employee to go through a card swipe reader upon entering and
leaving the plant in order to maintain an accurate record of
employees working in the facility at all times. An electrically
controlled gate will be installed with the use of a card or
security guard. Dr. Peters emphasized the importance of security
and recommended hiring a security employee for monitoring the
overall access to the plant.
A separate computer system will be utilized for air
pollution control. The system will control the amount of lime
injected into the scrubbers, cleaning cycles, and emissions from
the smoke stack.
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(~ l~S OF SPECIAL MEETING, JULY 31, 1990 (CONTINUED)
Discussion was held on the safety of citizens using cars and
trucks when dumping trash. Commissioner Mathews inquired as to
what safety measures can be utilized. Dr. Peters stated some
facilities use rolloffs to accommodate citizens dumping waste and
stated the Commissioners may wish to consider this option.
Further discussion was held on the mixture of chemicals creating
explosions and the safety of employees, particularly with
reference to steam and chemical burns. Director of Resource
Recovery, Troy Flanagan, stated the State Department of Solid
Hazardous Waste will require monitoring of materials dumped into
the pit and suggested assigning this duty to the security guard,
if hired.
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Chairman Retchin commented on the safety of the general
public when using the facility and recommended installation of
rolloffs or some method of protection. Dr. Peters recommended
installing a special area outside of the facility for persons
driving cars stating cars should not be allowed inside the
facility.
Consensus: It was the consensus of the Board to request Staff to
prepare a recommendation on safety options for protection of the
public when using the Resource Recovery Center. Costs are to be
included in the recommendation.
Discussion was held on the need for qualified personnel to
handle the technical aspects of the operation and to prepare the
detailed reports required by EPA. Dr. Peters stated the County
Manager has been informed of this need and recommendations will
be presented.
Commissioner Greer inquired as to when the expansion project
will be completed. Dr. Peters stated the expanded plant should
be operational by March 1991.
.,' A copy of the Project Status Report dated July 31, 1990, is
on file in the Clerk's Office.
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ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Retchin expressed appreciation to Dr. Peters for
the informative update and adjourned the meeting at 11:35 o'clock
A.M.
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Clerk to the Board
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