1988-04-18 Water & Sewer PH
MINUTES OF J?J!~~:J:~ ~EARING FOR NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND
SEWER DISTRICT, APRIL 18, 1988
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover
County Water and Sewer District held a Public Hearing on
Monday, April 18, 1988, at 7:00 o'clock P.M. in the
Courtroom of the New Hanover County Judicial Building,
Wilmington, North Carolina, to discuss the 201 Facility Plan
Update.
District
Fred Retchin;
Sr. ;
Commissioners present were: John M. Dolan;
Nolan O'Neal; Chairman, Jonathan Barfield,
District Commissioner, W. Albert Corbett, Jr., was
absent.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF 201 FACILITY PLAN
UPDATE
Chairman Barfield opened the Public Hearing.
Mr. Ray Hamilton, Regional Manager of the Engineering
Firm of Talbert, Cox & Associates, Inc., introduced the
fOllowing Staff who prepared the 201 Facility Plan Update:
Mr. Gene Gardner, Project Manager
Mr. Ken Weeden, Planner
Mr. Sy Ripple, Project Engineer on Planning
Phase and Project Manager for Design Phase
Mr. Mike Kelly, Environmentalist
Mr. Hamilton presented a map showing all of the
unincorporated areas of the County defining each
Construction Phase of the existing County Sewer System. He
stated New Hanover County is currently ~isted on the State
of North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development, Division of Environmental
Management's, 1988 Fiscal Year Wastewater Treatment Project
Priority list as eligible for construction of a $5.8 million
unspecif ied sewer interceptor proj ect. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) grant funding for the project is
listed at $2.8 million. On January 20, 1988, a meeting was
held in Raleigh, North Carolina, with members of the State
Division of Environmental Management staff, who administer
the construction grants program; County representatives; and
representatives from Talbert, Cox & Associates to discuss
being able to obtain these funds. In order for New Hanover
County to be eligible to receive EPA grant funding, the New
Hanover County Water and Sewer District 201 Facility Plan
must be updated.
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
Mr. Hamilton commented on importance of time in
preparing and adopting the 201 Facility Plan update stating
all work must be completed including award of construction
contracts by October 1, 1988, in order to receive the EPA
grant in the amount of $2.8 million.
Mr. Hamilton stated after analysis and study of the
existing plan, the County should continue its program of
providing sewer service to its residents in accordance with
the recommended phases. He stated the projected cost of the
entire Sewer Plan will be $155,500,000.
Mr. Mike Kelly, Environmentalist for Talbert, Cox &
Associates, gave background information on the environmental
update for the 201 Facility Plan. He stated the
environmental update of the plan was accomplished by
reviewing available literature regarding the environmental
conditions reported in the 1976 Greater Wilmington Area 201
Facilities Plan and the 1978 201 Plan Addenda, as well as,
acquiring environmental data that has since been published.
He commented on the following major points:
1. Goundwater:
a. North
Hanover
recharge
passage
directly
and Northwestern portions of New
County contain secondary aquifer
areas which are vulnerable to
of contaminates and pollutants
into the groundwater.
b. The Southern portion of the County contains
both primary and secondary recharge areas
as well as shallow water tables.
2. Limitation of Soils:
Forty-Six percent of New Hanover County
contains very poorly drained soils with
a seasonal high water table creating severe
limitations for septic tank absorption
fields due to wetness and flooding.
Sound areas and tidal creeks of the County
with productive shellfish have been closed
due to failure of septic tanks in those
area.
Mr. Kelly stated in the design phase of the plan,
extensive work will be performed to assure protection of the
groundwater, soils, and conservation areas.
Mr. Hamilton stated in preparing the update, realizing
that funding sources are limited, his firm prepared an
update that would provide for the best long-range plan for
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
service in New Hanover County. He listed the following
alternatives that were evaluated:
1. Expansion of City of Wilmington's Souths ide
Treatment as originally proposed.
Expansion of City of Wilmington's Northside
Treatment Plant
Middle Sound Area to Bradley Creek Pump
Station to Souths ide Waste Treatment
Plant until approximately year 2000.
By year 2000 the flow will be redirected
to Northside Treatment Plant which will
have been expanded.
Castle Hayne area will be served by the
Northside Treatment Plant.
This alternative will utilize only two treatment
plants, Souths ide and Northside.
2. Construction of a Treatment Plant in the Castle
Hayne area.
a. Providing a level of treatment at the Castle
Hayne Plant that will allow the waste water
to be discharged directly into the Northeast
Cape Fear River.
b. Castle Hayne Treatment Plant would not pump
raw sewerage, but would pump treated affluent
down Castle Hayne Road to lower Cape Fear River
requiring less stringent discharge and in the
location where the City discharges waste from
the Northside Treatment Plant.
3. An immediate expansion of the Northside Treatment
Plant with Castle Hayne being served by a pump
station from the expanded Northside Plant.
4. Construction of a Plant at Castle Hayne with Middle
Sound area being served by the Northside Treatment
Plant.
a. Castle Hayne Treatment Plant discharge with a
high level of treatment directly into the
Northeast Cape Fear River.
b. Castle Hayne Treatment Plant discharge with a
lesser of treatment discharged further down
the Northeast Cape Fear River in proximity with
City's discharge.
I : I 1 I
, I Ii:
I ' I
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
Mr. Hamilton stated after review of the four
alternatives and present work analysis of the four
alternatives, the cost of each project would be as follows:
Alternative 1 $116,457
Alternative 2(a) 126,676
2 (b) 128,265
Alternative 3 126,552
Alternative 4(a) 126,756
4(b) 128,344
He stated after further review of the alternatives,
Alternative #1 was selected as the most economical and
practical plan to follow with the advantage of allowing the
County to develop an initial phase project to capture grant
money for utilization of capacity currently invested in the
Souths ide Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mr. Hamil ton commented on the Feasibility Study and
discussed the following factors used to determine future
construction projects for the Sewer System.
1.
Unit Cost: The cost to provide sewer service
per customer from the collection line portion
of the project.
2.
Impact on Water Quality: Watersheds or
planning areas that are tributaries to primary
nursery and shellfish areas will receive
priority over centrally located areas within
the County.
3.
Malfunctioning Septic Tanks: These areas are
are a priority since contaminated water goes
directly into streams.
Future Growth: Areas with the fastest growth
\lill continue to grow rather than decline.
4.
5.
Treatment Capacity: Areas that have capacity
to treatment sewerage.
Based upon the formula as indicated above, the most
feasible areas to assemble a project with funds currently
available are as follows:
Bayshore
constructing
Bayshore Area
Howe's Creek
Whiskey Creek
Bernards Creek
Shore Area: The
collector sewers, a
plan
small
would
pump
consist
station
of
and
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
major pump station in Bayshore pumping up to U. S. Highway
17 down to watershed divider on U. S. 17 at which point a
gravity line will be installed running to Howe's Creek where
a small pump station will be constructed to pick up
surrounding subdivisions in that area; running to Military
Cut-Off Road running down to Bradley Creek Pump Station to
existing system at the Souths ide Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Whiskey Creek Area: The plan would consist of lines
flowing eastward down to a major pump station with small
pump stations located, in small finger canals along the
marine area pumping back into the major pump station with
installation of a force main to pump flow up to College Road
running down to Bernards Creek to a major pump station south
of the wastewater treatment which will pump the flow the
Souths ide Wastewater Treatment Plant. Areas that can be
served by gravity off of the interceptors will have
collection sewers installed in the first phase of the
project.
Mr. Hamilton stated the total cost for Alternative #1
as presented is less than $20 million which is to be funded
by the County from grant money, unsold bond proceeds, money
left over from Phase I of the Sewer Project, and expected
sales tax revenue during the construction of the project.
Discussion was held on time constraints for eligibility
of receiving an EPA grant offer in the amount of $2.8
million for construction of the interceptor project with the
following schedule being submitted:
( 1 ) Approval of 291 Facility Plan Update April 1988
( 2 ) Initiate Design of Interceptors for
Project April 1988
( 3 ) Submit Interceptor Plans to Reviewing
Agencies June 1988
( 4 ) Initiate Design of Collection Sewer
Systems July 1988
( 5 ) EPA Grant Offer made after approval of
201 Facility Plan and Construction Sept. 1988
Documents
( 6 ) Begin construction of Interceptor
and Collection System Projects Jan. 1989
( 7 ) Complete Projects Jan. 1990
Discussion was held on projects to be constructed after
completion of the proposed project. Mr. Hamilton stated
within the next month, plans for future projects will be
presented to the Water and Sewer District Commissioners with
alternative funding sources to accelerate time in swearing
the remaining areas of the County. He stated ideally, from
public input, the Castle Hayne area would have been
desirable for the first project; however, according to
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
criteria presented, this area did not receive priority
ranking compared to the Bayshore and Whiskey Creek areas.
Mr. Hamilton presented the projected average
residential monthly sewer cost as impacted by the proposed
project (Alternative #1) as follows:
Average Residential
Customer Currently
on Sewer System
Average Residential Average
Customer Rate After Residential
Construction of Sewer in Cost
Annexed Areas A & B With After
No Revenue Collected Since Completion
These Customers Pay of
Directly to the City Alternative #1
! !
! !
! !
! !
$17.54 per mo.
$21.30 per mo.
$24.54
Chairman Barfield expressed concern for City customers
not reimbursing the County for money allocated for
construction of sewer lines in Annexed Areas A & B.
Assistant Director of Finance, Allan Mozingo stated
customers in Annexed Areas A & Bare City customers. He
commented on a current inter local agreement which was
executed at the time of the original bond issue requiring
the City to pay to the County a portion of fees designated
as debt service at the City's rate structure which amounts
to approximately $20,000 to $50,000 per year with the
County's debt service at approximately $1,000,000 per year.
District Commissioner Dolan also expressed concern for
execution of an inter local agreement between the City and
County that is so one-sided in favor of the City. Mr.
Hamilton stated due to the commitment between the City and
County adopted in 1984, the monthly sewer fee is increased
by 50%. He stated unless favorable negotiations can be
worked out the City, the County is committed to the
inter local agreement.
Discussion was held on monthly rates. Mr. Hamilton
stated as additional customers are added to the system the
proportionate share per person will decrease. Therefore, as
the next project is completed (Alternative #1) and new
customers are developed, the monthly rate will drop due to
costs being incurred before the customers tie into the
system.
Discussion was also held on the possibility of being
eligible for additional state and federal revenue. County
Manager Cooper stated the proposed project is based upon
receipt of no additional federal or state funding;
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
therefore, if this revenue should become available, the
monthly rate would decrease.
Chairman Barfield asked if anyone from the general
public would to speak on the proposed project, Alternative
#1. The following persons commented:
Mr. Yi LeGwin, a property owner on Sidbury Road,
requested an approximate date for installation of sewer
lines in this area. Mr. Hamilton stated under the priority
rating system, this area ranks low and until the Feasibility
Study is completed within the next month, he could not
estimate an approximate date. He stated the date for
phasing in all areas of the County will depend on funding
sources, and if the Sewer System is installed on a pay as
you goes basis, it could take approximately 30 years to
build out the entire system. He commented on the potential
of areas being sewered more rapidly by a developer
approaching the County volunteering to pay the installation
of lines in a particular area.
Ms. Ethel Ennis, a property owner on Sidbury Road,
expressed concern for the numbers of years before sewer will
be available to persons living in the northern end of the
County, particularly the Castle Hayne area.
Mr. Tom Ennis, a property owner on Sidbury Road,
commented on septic tank soil evaluation tests being
performed by the Health Department expressing concern for
the manner in which they are conducted. He stated many
property owners are being denied septic tank permits on land
that was approved for issuance of permits two to three years
ago. Chairman Barfield stated after the Feasibility Study
is completed, he would like to call a Special Meeting of the
Water and Sewer District to hear a presentation from State
and Local Health Department officials concerning rules and
regulations governing the issuance of septic tanks with time
being reserved for public comment.
Mr. Jim Bordeaux, a resident of Castle Hayne, expressed
concern for paying an impact fee of $375 for placement of a
structure on property when the Sewer System will not be
available for approximately 30 years.
Mr. James Whitted, a resident of Castle Hayne,
requested the Board of Commissioners to review how the
Health Department is issuing septic tank permits.
Mr. Ernest Puskus, a resident of Castle Hayne, asked if
private disposal systems, such as NorthChase, will be
required to tie into the Sewer System when it becomes
available. County Attorney Pope stated the State Utilities
Commission has not provided a clear-cut answer to this
question; however, the issue is being addressed. He also
expressed concern for emphasis being placed on contamination
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
APRIL 18, 1988 (CONTINUED)
of the sound areas, stating the quality of water in the Cape
Fear is also important.
Chairman Barfield closed the Public Hearing. On behalf
of the Board of District Commissioners, he expressed
appreciation to the public for their attendance and
participation stating the District Board is well aware of
problems created by not being able to provide sewer to all
areas of the County wi thin the next five years; however,
every effort is being made to phase in as many areas as
quickly as possible.
ADJOURNMENT
District Commissioner Dolan MOVED, SECONDED
Commissioner Retchin to adjourn. Upon vote,
CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
by District
the MOTION
Voting Aye: District Commissioner Dolan
District Commissioner O'Neal
District Commissioner Retchin
Chairman Barfield
Absent:
District Commissioner Corbett
Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 9:10 o'clock
P.M.
~Cd;~
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District