Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-13-1999 - 1,' ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 13, 1999 Action Agenda Item No. ~_ SUBJECT: Chatham County Request to Access Jordan Lake Water Allocation Through OWASA's Jordan Lake Property and Approved Intake Location DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Engineer PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Draft Letter Paul Thames, ext 2303 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To review a proposed letter to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Board of Directors regarding local water supply and water quality protection issues. BACKGROUND: At several recent meetings, the Board of Commissioners has discussed its response to questions and issues raised at an October 1, 1998 meeting involving a number of local government entities concerning Jordan Lake water supply and water quality. This meeting affords an opportunity for the Board to review a revised draft of a letter to OWASA, which incorporates suggestions offered by Commissioner Jacobs at the Board's Apri16 regular meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact that would result from the approval of this letter. Related decisions made in the future by local governments, OWASA, and the State pertaining to the water supply/protection issues discussed may have long-term impacts on the County's capital and operating budgets. The nature and scope of these potential costs cannot be accurately gauged at this time. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the proposed letter and approve it, or a modified version thereof, for transmission to OWASA's Board of Directors. DRAFT April 13, 1999 Mr. Daniel C. VanderMeer, Chair Board of Directors Orange Water and Sewer Authority PO Box 366 Carrboro, NC 27510-0366 Dear Mr. VanderMeer: The Orange County Board of Commissioners offers the following comments regarding the local water supply and water quality protection issues discussed at the October 1, 1998 meeting involving Orange and Chatham Counties, the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, and OWASA. Clearly our region's explosive growth makes it imperative that all local jurisdictions work together to protect the quality of all of our natural resources and promote the most environmentally sound usage of those resources. Orange County is located in the upper portions of a number of important and environmentally sensitive water supply river systems. Consequently we are acutely conscious of the need to be judicious in our efforts to be good stewards of our available water resources, and of the need to work with the local governmental jurisdictions within and adjacent to Orange County to develop the strategies and accomplish the goals consistent with that stewardship. In accordance with this philosophy, the Orange County Board of Commissioners commends OWASA on its efforts to bring stakeholders in local water supply issues together to discuss issues of mutual concern. Relative to the issues raised at the October 1 S` meeting, the Board of County Commissioners is of course interested in facilitating a solution for Chatham County's water needs. Since there have been additional discussions on this issue since October 15~, it would be very helpful for Orange County to receive clarification concerning the options open to Chatham County at the present time, including Chatham County's preferred solution. If an intake on the western side of Jordan Lake is the preferred option, then Orange County encourages Chatham County to work with OWASA to develop a plan to provide access to Jordan Lake water supplies for Chatham County. Any such plan should DRAFT Mr. Daniel C. VanderMeer April 13, 1999 page 2 of course ensure that OWASA's and Orange County's potential access to their Jordan Lake allocations be preserved. Subsequent to development of the plan, and before any efforts to implement the plan, Orange County wishes to review the plan with Chatham County, OWASA, OWASA's other constituent governments, and state and federal agencies controlling access to and allocation of Jordan Lake water supplies. The Orange County Boazd of Commissioners is ready to join all existing and potential users of Jordan Lake water supplies in studying, developing and implementing effective watershed and water quality protection strategies. The Orange County Boazd of Commissioners is similazly ready to work with Chatham County to discuss, develop and implement enhanced watershed and water quality protection strategies for University Lake water supplies. If I may provide any additional input or staff assistance, please contact me at your eazliest convenience. I would appreciate your advising the Boazd of County Commissioners when OWASA has ascertained the range of options for meeting Chatham County's water needs, including their preferred option. Sincerely, Alice M. Gordon, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners cc: Chatham County Boazd of Commissioners Alice M. Gordon, Chair Stephen K Halkiotis, Vice Chair Margaret W. Brown Moses Carey, Jr. Barry Jacobs Orange County Commissioners P. O. Box 8181 200 S Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 April 13, 1999 Mr. Daniel C. VanderMeer, Chair Board of Directors Orange Water and Sewer Authority PO Box 366 Carrboro, NC 27510-0366 0~, T~r ~~11~PY~~PPr• ear ~.__ _ =-~t ~°°"~-~ ~\ ©,,~ °~ The Orange County Board of Commissioners offers the following comments regarding the local water supply and water quality protection issues discussed at the October 1, 1998 meeting involving Orange and Chatham Counties, the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, and OWASA. Clearly our region's explosive growth makes it imperative that all local jurisdictions work together to protect the quality of all of our natural resources and promote the most environmentally sound usage of those resources. Orange County is located in the upper portions of a number of important and environmentally sensitive water supply river systems. Consequently we are acutely conscious of the need to be judicious in our efforts to be good stewards of our available water resources, and of the need to work with the local governmental jurisdictions within and adjacent to Orange County to develop the strategies and accomplish the goals consistent with that stewardship. In accordance with this philosophy, the Orange County Board of Commissioners commends OWASA on its efforts to bring stakeholders in local water supply issues together to discuss issues of mutual concern. Relative to the issues raised at the October ls` meeting, the Board of County Commissioners is of course interested in facilitating a solution for Chatham County's water needs. Since there have been additional discussions on this issue since October ls`, it would be very helpful for Orange County to receive clarification concerning the options open to Chatham County at the present time, including Chatham County's preferred solution. If an intake on the western side of Jordan Lake is the preferred option, then Orange County encourages Chatham County to work with OWASA to develop a plan to provide access to Jordan Lake water supplies for Chatham County. Any such plan should You Count In Orange County AREA CODE (9l9) 732-8181: 968-4501: 688-7331: 227-2031: FAX (919) 644-3004 Ext. 2130 Mr. Daniel C. VanderMeer April 13, 1999 page 2 of course ensure that OWASA's and Orange County's potential access to their Jordan Lake allocations be preserved. Subsequent to development of the plan, and before any efforts to implement the plan, Orange County wishes to review the plan with Chatham County, OWASA, OWASA's other constituent governments, and state and federal agencies controlling access to and allocation of Jordan Lake water supplies. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is ready to join all existing and potential users of Jordan Lake water supplies in studying, developing and implementing effective watershed and water quality protection strategies. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is similarly ready to work with Chatham County to discuss, develop and implement enhanced watershed and water quality protection strategies for University Lake water supplies. If I may provide any additional input or staff assistance, please contact me at your earliest convenience. I would appreciate your advising the Board of County Commissioners when OWASA has ascertained the range of options for meeting Chatham County's water needs, including their preferred option. Sincerely, Alice M. Gordon, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners cc: Chatham County Board of Commissioners 34/14/99