2005-10-17 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 17, 2005
BOOK 3
PAGE 146
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in
Regular Session on Monday, October 17, 2005, at 11 :21 a.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; Interim County Manager Dave Weaver; 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.
Cathy Plale, resident of Fontana Road, spoke on the flooding problems that she is experiencing and
requested the County's help.
Sheri Mongold, resident of Arnold Drive, spoke on the flooding problems she is experiencing from clogged
drainage pipes running under her property. She requested the County's help in cleaning out the drainage pipes.
District Chairman Caster requested County Engineer Greg Thompson to follow-up with the speakers.
CONSIDERATION OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH PENDER COUNTY FOR WATER AND
SEWER DEVELOPMENT
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that on September 19, 2005, the Pender County Board of
Commissioners adopted a resolution approving an inter-local agreement for water and sewer development between
Pender County and New Hanover County. The resolution states that both parties agree to develop water and sewer
facilities and share proportionately in the costs particularly along the Highway 421 Corridor. The facilities would
attract new industry and help existing industries with future environmental compliance. The total project cost for
this treatment facility is estimated to be $25 million.
Staff is requesting the Board approve the Interlocal Governmental Agreement between Pender County and
New Hanover County with the understanding that funding for any project developed under this agreement would
require prior approval by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Due to wording changes in the initial
Agreement by the New Hanover County Board the Agreement will be presented to the Pender County Board of
Commissioners for their approval.
Commissioner Davis clarified with County Engineer Thompson that:
. Pender County came to New Hanover County requesting the counties work together to provide
sewer to Pender County and the northern Highway 421 Corridor.
. It has been cost prohibitive to provide water and sewer from New Hanover County across the
river to northern New Hanover County.
. There is a good possibility that unless such an agreement is made, it will remain cost prohibitive,
and sewer will never be provided.
. This will have no effect on the residents that are going to be served by the Northside Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
. Providing water and sewer will benefit both businesses and residents on the northern Highway
421 Corridor.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 17, 2005
BOOK 3
PAGE 147
. Pender County is in a position to obtain grant monies that are not available to New Hanover
County.
. Funding for any project developed under this agreement would require prior approval by the New
Hanover County Board of Commissioners.
. The Agreement begins the planning stage that will study the feasibility of such a facility.
Scott Satterfield, Chief Executive Officer of Wilmington Industrial Development, encouraged the Board to
approve the Interlocal Government Agreement between Pender County and New Hanover County stating the
positive impact the agreement would have on the economic development growth along the Highway 421 North
Industrial Corridor.
Don Betz, Director of the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority, requested the Board to approve the
Interlocal Government Agreement with Pender County stating that the partnership will enhance investments that
have been made and that the Authority supports the effort.
After brief discussion, District Chairman Caster requested direction from the Board.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Kopp MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett, to approve the
Interlocal Governmental Agreement between Pender County, North Carolina and New Hanover County, North
Carolina for the purpose of both counties agreeing to cooperate and communicate on the design and development of
facilities which will mutually benefit both counties with the understanding that this is an agreement only to
determine the feasibility and cost of planning, designing and constructing water and sewer facilities along the
Highway 421 Corridor. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
PRESENTATION OF THE WELL FIELD AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT
Dan Dawson, representative from W. K. Dickson, Community Infrastructure Consultants, reported that the
preliminary design phase for the New Hanover County Well Field and Water Treatment Plant project is nearing
completion.
Mr. Dawson stated that the project objective is to develop a dependable source of high quality drinking
water to meet the current needs and to provide facility expansions to meet future needs. The service area is northern
New Hanover County with an initial capacity of 6.9 million gallons/day (MGD). The sources will be the Castle
Hayne and Pee Dee Aquifers.
The final environmental assessment was submitted in August 2005, with a finding of no significant impact,
confirming compliance with the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act issued by the State Clearinghouse in late
September 2005.
Randy Hildebrand, representative from W. K. Dickson, presented the water treatment plant site plan
including treatment plant building, finished water reservoirs, administration and maintenance building.
The estimate of construction costs is:
. Wells = $4.3 million
. Water transmission mains = $7.0 million
. Water treatment plant = $18.7 million
. Total project cost for 6 MGD plant = $30 million
First year unit costs:
. 3.0 MGD = $3.62/1,000 gallons
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 17, 2005
BOOK 3
PAGE 148
. 3.5 MGD = $3.10/1,000 gallons
. 4.0 MGD = $2.72/1,000 gallons
Project schedule:
. Plan approval submittals: February 2006
. Permitting Reviews: 1 to 3 months
. Bidding: May/June 2006
. Contract Award: June/July 2006
. Construction Duration: 22 months
. Start-up: May 2008
After a brief question and answer time District Chairman Caster thanked the representatives from W. K.
Dickson for the update.
CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF WELL SITE PURCHASE FOR WATER PLANT
PROJECT
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that on January 20, 2004, the New Hanover County Board of
Commissioners approved a $24 million budget for the construction of an eight million gallon per day water
treatment plant and well field to supply high quality drinking water to northern New Hanover County. Currently,
the County has acquired the plant site and five well sites. Several parcels of land are required for the twenty-one
planned wells needed for the project.
On September 15th, an option to purchase 5.6+/- acres was obtained for $350 by Triece and Company, Inc.,
on behalf of New Hanover County. Staff is requesting the Board approve the purchase of Lot 42 of Greenview
Ranches in the amount of $25,000 for well sites.
District Chairman Caster requested direction from the Board.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Kopp MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to approve the
purchase of Lot 42 of Greenview Ranches in the amount of $25,000 for well sites. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
District Chairman Caster called for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on October
3,2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Kopp, to approve the
minutes of the regular meeting held on October 3,2005, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote,
the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, District Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 12:22 p.rn.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the District Board