2006-06-19 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 19,2006
BOOK3
PAGE 175
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in Regular Session
on Monday, June 19,2006, at 10:50 a.ill. 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 Clerk to the District Board Sheila 1. Schult.
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 June 5, 2006, as
presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to approve the minutes of
the Regular Meeting held on June 6, 2006, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY
WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
County Manager Bruce Shell presented the FY 2006-2007 Budget Ordinance for the New Hanover County Water
and Sewer District in the amount of $17,946,890.
Revenue Source
Amount
Charges for Service
Operating Transfer/One-Half Cent Sales Taxes (Art 40 & 42)
Interest and Other
Special Assessments
Total Revenues - Water and Sewer District Fund
$13,763,300
3,527,990
508,000
147,600
$17,946,890
Finance Director Avril Pinder reported that, based on changes approved by the Board, to the average customer
using 6,500 gallons of water per month the water rate will increase from $13.30 to $15.32. The sewer rate will increase
from $26 to $29 per month and the flat rate for sewer will increase from $29 to $32 per month.
Hearing no further discussion, District Chairman Kopp asked for direction from the Board.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Caster, to adopt the Fiscal Year
2006-2007 Budget Ordinance for the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District as presented. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy ofthe Budget Ordinance is hereby incorporated as a part ofthe minutes and is contained in the Water and
Sewer Exhibit Book III, Page 9.
UPDATE ON WATER SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS PROGRAM
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 19,2006
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PAGE 176
County Engineer Greg Thompson presented a slide presentation providing an overview of water system
enhancements that the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District has been working on for the past three years. The
water system enhancement projects are necessary to improve pressure and flow in portions ofthe District's system. Privately
constructed systems that are now operated by the District need to be improved and modified to provide improved service to
the District's customers.
After a brief question and answer period, District Commissioner Kopp requested County Engineer Thompson move
to the next item as it is connected with the water system enhancements.
AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE BIDS FOR PORTERS NECK AREA INTER-CONNECTOR WATER LINE
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that there are several water system enhancement projects currently
underway to improve pressure and flow in the northern part ofthe County. One ofthese projects is to install 3,360 linear feet
of water line which will help to increase water flow and pressure in the Porters Neck area. The water line is being extended
from Oak Landing Shopping Center on the east side of Market Street, along Porters Neck Road, to the entrance of Porters
Crossing and connects to an existing l2-inch water line that supplies the Porters Neck area. In an effort to reduce cost, the
l6-inch concentrate discharge line associated with the County's Water Treatment Plant project will share the same trench and
route.
Also included in this project, is approximately 950 linear feet of l2-inch water line that connects the new water
tower at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center site to the existing l6-inch line on Market Street in the Porters Neck
Area. Again, in an effort to reduce cost, the 16- inch concentrate discharge line associated with the County's Water Treatment
Plant will share the same trench and route.
Staff estimates the cost for this project to be in the amount of$494,176 plus a 10% contingency of$49,176 for a
total amount of$543,594 appropriated from the Water and Sewer District fund balance.
Staff is requesting the Commissioners agree to advertise and receive bids for construction.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to authorize Staff to
advertise the Porters Neck area inter-connector water line and receive bids for construction. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZATION OF DISTRICT PARTICIPATION IN SCOTTS HILL VILLAGE WATER LINE
EXTENSION AND APPROVAL OF ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that the developer of Scotts Hill Village is extending the District's water
system approximately 3,739 linear feet along Market Street to supply water to this tract. Working in cooperation with the
District, the developer is offering to upgrade the required 8- inch water line to a 16- inch water line. The increased capacity of
the l6-inch water line will improve water flow and pressure to the northeastern area of the County.
Three bids have been obtained by the developer, SENCA Properties, LLC, for the 8-inch line extension and three
bids for the 16- inch line extension. Staff evaluated the bids, checked material costs with suppliers and determined that the
difference in cost between installing the l6-inch water line versus the 8-inch water line is $37.70 per linear foot, or
$140,960.
Staff requests the Board authorize County participation in the amount of$140,960, plus a 10% contingency in the
amount of $14,096, for a total of $155,056 and approve the associated budget amendment from Water and Sewer
appropriated fund balance.
Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Greer, to authorize County
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 19,2006
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participation in the up sizing of the Scotts Hill Village l6-inch water line extension in the amount of$140,960, plus 10%
contingency in the amount $14,096, for a total of$155,056. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Caster to approve the associated
budget amendment #2006-104. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Budget Amendment # 2006-104 - Water System Enhancements/Water-Sewer Operating
Adjustment
Debit
Credit
Water & Sewer District:
Appropriated Fund Balance
Transfer to Water System Enhancements
Water System Enhancements Capital Project:
Transfer in from Water & Sewer
Capital Project Expense
$155,056
$155,056
$155,056
$155,056
Explanation: To increase budget to fund the up sizing of a water line in the Porters Neck area.
AUTHORIZATION FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND LAND INVESTIGATION AND ACQUISITION
FOR THE WATER PLANT AND APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that at the District Board's meeting held on April 3, 2006, Dan Dawson
ofW.K. Dickson and Kim Williams of Land Management Group presented the status ofthe Drinking Water Treatment Plant
Well Field Project. At that time, they emphasized the need to obtain the necessary permits for the wetland impacts associated
with building the plant, installing the thirty-two wells, and constructing roads to provide access to the wells. Much ofthe
work is in or around wetlands and requires a major permitting effort beyond the preliminary work that has already been
completed.
The Land Management Group is directly involved with wetlands delineation and negotiations with the regulatory
agencies. The Land Management Group has entered into a contract with the County and is reimbursed at an approved hourly
rate. The original appropriation was in the amount of$37 ,690 with year-to-date expenditures of$34,027.40, with $3,662.60
remaining in the budget.
Staff requests that the Board authorize the Land Management Group to continue working with the wetlands
delineation and negotiations with the regulatory agencies for completion ofthe drinking water treatment plant and the well
field project and approved the associated budget amendment #2006-108 in the amount of$150,000.
District Chairman Kopp reported that this item was on the agenda two weeks ago with the approval of a well site
purchase and was not approved at that time.
District Commissioner Greer reported that he has spoken with Dan Dawson. Mr. Dawson assured him that moving
forward with funding the wetlands permitting activities is in the best interest of the County.
District Commissioner Greer requested clarification that the agenda item that was approved on June 5, 2006 for
$29,000 for the well site was included in the $150,000 that was being requested now.
District Chairman Kopp stated that his understanding was that the $29,000 that was approved by the District Board
on June 5, 2006 for the well site was in addition to the $150,000 being requested for costs to be incurred to Land
Management Group.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 19,2006
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Motion: District Vice-Chairman Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett, to authorize funding of
the wetlands permitting activities by Land Management Group for the drinking water treatment plant and the well field
project in the amount of $150,000 and approve the associated budget amendment #2006-108. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Budget Amendment # 2006-108 - Well Field Capital Proiect/Water-Sewer
Adiustment
Debit
Credit
Well field Capital Project:
Transfer in from Fund 800
Capital Project Expense - Land
Capital Project Expense - Land Mgmt. Group
Water- Sewer:
Appropriated Fund Balance
Transfer to Capital Projects
$150,000
$100,000
$ 50,000
$150,000
$150,000
Explanation: To increase well field capital project budget for additional purchases for well sites and for additional expense
for professional services.
PRESENTATION ON EMERGENCY GENERATORS
County Engineer Greg Thompson presented an overview and a summary report of the operational policies and
procedures associated with the District's sewer lift stations and emergency power. The District uses a computer system that
is linked to the lift stations and monitors the operations at each one of the lift station sites. The computer system is monitored
around the clock by Staff.
If the computer system detects a power outage then the power is transferred to emergency generator power that
operates the lift station. Over one hundred ofthe lift stations are equipped with emergency generators with approximately
eight without emergency generators. In the event of a storm, generators are rented to cover these sites. The purchase of
emergency generators is included in the District's yearly budget and within the next three years all the lift stations will be
equipped with emergency generators. When new lift stations are proposed and constructed by private developers who then
donate those systems to the District, emergency generators are included.
Automatic transfer switches are used on the larger lift stations, while the small lift stations require manual transfer.
When the Board declares a "state of emergency" all the lift stations are switched either automatically or manually to generator
power and operate in that manner until the event has passed.
District Chairman Kopp asked if there was any further business.
District Commissioner Greer referred to the approved minutes of the District Board's June 5,2006 meeting stating
that the agenda item presented to the District Board at their June 5, 2006 meeting requested $29,000 for the well site
purchase and was included in the total request of$150,000.
After brief discussion, the consensus of the Board was to recess the meeting for a lunch break and during that time
review the back-up presented at the June 5, 2006 meeting and the approved minutes.
BREAK: District Chairman Kopp recessed the meeting for a lunch break from 11 :58 until 12:47 p.m.
AUTHORIZATION FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND LAND INVESTIGATION AND ACQUISITION
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 19,2006
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FOR THE WATER PLANT AND APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT
District Chairman Kopp reported that the Board has reviewed the back-up presented at the District's June 5, 2006
meeting and an amended motion has been requested.
Amended Motion: District Commissioner Greer MOVED, SECONDED by District Chairman Kopp, to authorize funding
of the wetlands permitting activities by Land Management Group for the drinking water treatment plant and the well field
project in the amount of $121,000 and approve any associated budget amendment needed. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED 3 TO 2. District Vice-Chairman Caster and District Commissioner Pritchett voted in opposition.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business, District Chairman Kopp requested a motion to adjourn.
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 12:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila 1. Schult
Clerk to the District Board