2006-04-18 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 18,2006
BOOK3
PAGE 165
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session
on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 1 :55 p.m. in the Assembly Room ofthe New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third
Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: District Chairman William A. Kopp, Jr.; District Vice-Chairman William A. Caster;
District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; District Commissioner Robert G. Greer; District Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett;
County Manager Bruce T. Shell; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Deputy Clerk to the District Board Teresa P.
Elmore.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
District Chairman Kopp 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.
No items were presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
District Chairman Kopp called for a motion to approve the minutes ofthe Regular Meeting held on April 3, 2006,
as presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Caster, to approve the minutes of
the Regular Meeting held on April 3, 2006, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM COMMERCIAL IMPACT FEES BY FORTRON
INDUSTRIES
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that in accordance with New Hanover County Ordinance, Article III
Sewer System, an industrial business can request exemption from impact fees if it has a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit and maintains a wastewater facility with capacity sufficient to cover the average daily
wastewater flow. F ortron Industries is requesting exemption from impact fees. Several other industries have been exempt
from impact fees such as General Electric and Elementis Chromium.
Staff recommends the impact fee be waived in the amount of $3 7 5 with the exception that if the County extends the
County sewer system to this parcel ofland, Forton should be required to connect to the sewer system.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Caster, to waive the impact fee
for F ortron Industries in the amount of $375 with the exception that ifthe County extends the County sewer system to this
parcel of land, Fortron shall be required to connect to the sewer system. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y.
CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FUNDING THE WATER AND SEWER
CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
District Chairman Kopp reported that the Water and Sewer District Board needs to approve Budget Amendment
#06-0180 in order to allocate the $200,000 contribution for the Water and Sewer Consolidation process.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to approve Budget
Amendment 06-0180 for funding the Water and Sewer Consolidation process.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 18,2006
BOOK3
PAGE 166
Budget Amendment #06-0180 - Water and Sewer District
Adjustment
Debit
Credit
Water and Sewer Finance:
(W&S) Approp Fund Balance
Water and Sewer Administration:
Contracted Services
$200,000
$200,000
Explanation: To budget funds for contribution by interlocal agreement with City of Wilmington for Water and Sewer
Consolidation. Funds will be used to hire a project manager to help direct consolidation process and begin selection process
for a firm to perform a rate feasibility study to focus on how District and City rates can be merged in the future.
DISCUSSION OF MANDATE BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE NORTHEAST INCEPTOR
IMPROVEMENTS
District Chairman Kopp requested Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver to give an update on the letter from the
N. C. Division of Water Quality to the City of Wilmington concerning the capacity of the Northeast Interceptor and the
impact to New Hanover County.
Assistant County Manager Weaver spoke on the State's concern with the number of sewage spills from the
Northeast Interceptor. The letter states that because ofthe sewage spills, the Northeast Interceptor is unable to reliably and
safely collect and transport waste to the City's Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant. They conclude that the pipeline is in
eminent danger of failure and have declared a moratorium on the discharge of additional wastewater through the issuance of
permits for extension of sewer lines to the Northeast Interceptor effective May 27,2006. The moratorium will stay in effect
until permanent repairs are made to the particular segment ofthe Northeast Interceptor. The City anticipates repairs should
be completed by the end of November.
Assistant County Manager Weaver explained that the moratorium means the State will no longer issue sewer
permits for any sewer system that feeds into the Northeast Interceptor. An individual planning to build on a lot located in a
recorded subdivision with sewer lines along the street will be able to get a building permit. However, any sewer line that
needs to be extended or expanded that connects to the Northeast Interceptor will not be able to get a State permit for the
sewer plan.
By copy of the letter to the County and the Town of Wrightsville Beach, the State is requesting the local
governments take all reasonable effective action to limit additional flow. With the mandate, the County will focus its yearly
inspections on sewer systems that are tributaries to the Northeast Interceptor and perform smoke tests and in-line camera
inspections to look for any problem areas or cracks in the system. Furthermore, the County will request a voluntary water
conservation program and urge the public to report problems of missing manhole covers or broken valves. This approach
will reduce the amount of groundwater and stormwater going into the system during a rainfall. He noted that the public
should report any problem to the County Engineering Department at 798-7139.
District Commissioner Greer pointed out that the State declared its mandate based on the City's report on the
condition of the pipes to the State instead of anything the State found on its own. He reported that City Council should award
the bid for repairs at its first meeting in May.
District Chairman Kopp thanked Assistant County Manager Weaver for the report.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business, District Chairman Kopp requested a motion to adjourn.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 18,2006
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Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to adjourn the meeting.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
District Chairman Kopp adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Deputy Clerk to the District Board