2023-11-02 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING PAGE 37
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met on November 2, 2023 at 4:02 p.m. for Agenda
Review in Conference Rooms 138-139 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center
Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present: Chair Bill Rivenbark; Vice-Chair LeAnn Pierce; Commissioner Dane Scalise; and
Commissioner Rob Zapple. Members absent: Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney K. Jordan Smith; and Clerk to the Board
Kymberleigh G. Crowell.
Chair Rivenbark called the Agenda Review meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting
is to review and discuss the agenda items for the November 6, 2023 Regular Meeting with discussions as noted:
Consent Agenda Item #2: New Hanover County Monthly Collection Report for September 2023. Tax
Administrator Allison Snell stated in response to questions that the timing of when the tax bills went out and
payments received have driven the increase in revenue. County Manager Coudriet added that the tax base has also
grown, which contributes to an increase in tax revenue.
Consent Agenda Item #3: Approval to Donate Fire Pumper to Cape Fear Community College Fire Rescue
Program. Fire Rescue Chief Donnie Hall stated in response to questions that the value of the pumper truck being
donated is about $20,000.
Consent Agenda Item #4: ABC Board - Audited Financial Statements - Fiscal Year 2023. Chair Rivenbark
stated that there is a limited amount of funding that local Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) Boards can keep in
their savings account, which the New Hanover County ABC Board exceeded this year. The funds will be allocated to
the County and its municipalities.
Regular Agenda Item #8: Consideration of White Road Culvert Replacement and Adoption of Associated
Budget Amendment. County Engineer Tim Lowe stated in response to questions that the subject portion of White
Road where the culvert is located was dedicated as public but never petitioned to the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) to become a state maintained road. The drainage that flows through the culvert also comes
from other communities outside of the subject neighborhood. If the subject portion of the road had been accepted
by NCDOT, it would have been NCDOT’s responsibility to fix the problem. A brief discussion ensued about the
importance of having roads petitioned and then turned over to NCDOT. County Manager Coudriet stated that this
project is proposed as a loan structure from the general fund back to the Stormwater Services fund with an
associated equivalent residential unit (ERU) monthly adjustment. The County does require roads to be developed to
NCDOT standards to be turned over, but it is up to the homeowner’s association or developer to petition NCDOT.
The County is not statutorily required to make the repair but is doing so because it is related to drainage.
STAFF UPDATE
Northern New Hanover County Mains Project Construction Costs Overview. Assistant County Manager
Lisa Wurtzbacher presented the following update:
Northern water/sewer cost update:
Total of six different projects: Holly Shelter Road water main, North College Road water main, Blue
Clay Road water main – phase 1, Holly Shelter Road force main, Sidbury Road force main – phase
2, and the Greenview West and East area force mains:
County Manager Coudriet stated that before the adoption of the 2016 Comprehensive Land Use Plan there
was an artificial boundary in the northern part of the County where there would not be an extension of water and
sewer. In 2016, the Board decided to remove that, opening the chance for development in that area. Ms.
Wurtzbacher added that in 2020, the County had a report done on what it would take to bring water and sewer to
that area of the County. It showed that it would cost roughly $176 per foot to construct water lines and
approximately $140 per foot to construct a sewer main.
History:
FY 2021: Preliminary engineering report completed and development of project estimates by
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) began
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING PAGE 38
FY 2023: Design cost budget of $3,000,000
September 2022: Interlocal agreement approved:
CFPUA would design and manage the project
Design cost of $3,000,000 and estimated construction cost of $23,500,000
Construction bid results will be presented to the County for review and approval
FY 2024: Construction cost budget of $23,500,000
October 2023: Engineers updated budget estimates
Funding comparison:
Mr. Wurtzbacher stated in response to questions that the increased estimates were received in August and
September of 2023. County Manager Coudriet added that it would not have changed anything if the new cost
estimates had been received a few months ago compared to today. Staff and CFPUA are not at the point of a new
request; these are the best current estimates being presented to the Board today. He added that it is possible that
when the design is done and the projects are put out for bid, based on experience with other current projects, the
bids may come at or below the estimate.
A brief discussion ensued regarding cost estimates and how to ensure the numbers are current.
Commissioner Scalise suggested ensuring that any project estimates that have not been updated since 2021 be
updated to avoid sticker shock in the future. CFPUA Deputy Executive Director Carel Vandermeyden stated that
project bids for water and sewer have a design bid process versus a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) process,
which would be common for the construction of buildings. CFPUA does a few projects with a GMP, but pipeline
projects such as this are done through design and then public bidding. There was also an increase after surveying
potential routes, which added $2.3 million to the project due to more line being needed for one of the projects.
There has also been a significant increase in material and labor costs, which have driven up the estimate.
County Manager Coudriet stated that the final ask will not come to the Board until spring 2024. Today's
update is to convey the information provided to staff. There has been a commitment from CFPUA staff to provide
more frequent updates, so the Board does not see this kind of sticker shock moving forward. Ms. Wurtzbacher stated
that the state has committed $30 million to this project, and the staff is requesting a technical correction of an
additional $7 million, bringing the amount that the County would have to borrow to approximately $5.7 million. She
then provided an overview of the project timeline:
Chair Rivenbark thanked Ms. Wurtzbacher for the update.
CLOSED SESSION
Chair Rivenbark stated that a Closed Session is needed pursuant to North Carolina General Statute (NCGS)
143-318.11(a)(3) to consult with the county attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the
county attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged.
Motion: Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Scalise to enter into a Closed Session pursuant
to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) to consult with the county attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege
between the county attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chair Rivenbark convened to Closed Session at 4:43 p.m. and stated that all persons not Board members or
specifically designated staff were to leave the meeting room.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING PAGE 39
CONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION
Chair Rivenbark called the meeting back to order at 5:09 p.m. and reported that pursuant to NCGS 143-
318.11(a)(3), the Board concluded its consultation with its legal counsel.
Discussion ensued regarding water at the southern end of the County. County Manager Coudriet stated
that he reached out to CFPUA Executive Director Ken Waldroup who has committed to investigating what it would
take to make CFPUA water available to customers either as a required replacement or as an option. As to the
elevated bills received by Aqua NC customers, his understanding from CFPUA is that the charges were authorized by
the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which is a short term temporary impact, and the elevated costs will subside.
Staff can prepare a response on behalf of the Board. There was a brief discussion on about providing CFPUA service
along the southern end of the County to Snow’s Cut Bridge.
A brief discussion ensued regarding a letter for the Couty Commissioners’ signatures that
Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Tim Buckland drafted to the EPA regarding Chemours and the PFAS being sent
to its Fayetteville plant. The Board requested the letter be sent sooner than later.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Rivenbark adjourned the meeting at 5:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting. The
entire proceedings are available online at www.nhcgov.com.