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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19840214r~ r. ~+. ~; x pI IN[JTES SPECIAL MEETING ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COrI~1ISSI0NERS February 14, 1984 The Orange County.8oard of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday, February 14, 1984 in the Commissioners' Room,. Hillsborough, North Carolina at 7:3D p.m. - Commissioners Present: Don Willhoit, Chair and Commissioners Shirley Marshall, Ben Lloyd, Norman Walker and Richard whined. __ 1. ~j(~ N~ SION,,~ County Manager Thompson presented background information and an overview of the two projects: (l) Cheeks Township water and Sewer Extension Feasibility Report, and (2) Upper Eno River Basin Reservoir Development Feasibility Report. He outlined the originating circumstances that prompted this engineering report - (1) malfunctioning septic tanks presenting a hazard to the occupants, (2) malfunctioning of the package treatment plant .at the Efland Cheeks School, and (3) the area which is nutrient sensitive. The County Commissioners saw a need for a master plan for the entire area including the homes, the school and future economic growth. Article B of the Hillsborough 201 plan called for a reasonable partnership in the future between the County and Hillsborough to serve the Efland area with Hillsborough as the lead agency in providing the sewer treatment plant. This report gave no completion date for providing these services. As a result of a meeting with the Town of Hillsborough last _.. July, 1983, Hillsborough indicated a willingness to provide the labor and equipment to install this sewer line. Farmers Home Administration, funding agency, disagreed with this concept indicating they desired a project that could be competitively bid from the outset so that the cost would be determined before the start of any construction work with one contractor being solely responsible. They required that the County own the lines until the bond indebtedness was paid in full. Orange County agreed to pay the expense (2 grants and 1 loan) and maintain the lines (monthly payments from customers). The County would be responsible for collection and in turn pay the town fvr its cost of treating the sewage. In July, 1983, the John McAdams Engineering Company was hired to develop two reports: (1) the Reservoir feasibility report and (2) sewer study. In conjunction, the Planning Department was to consider a land use plan and zoning for the V7est Orange Area taking into account: (1) the engineer's design for an initial service area and future growth; (2) further extension for commercial and industrial development; (3) best site for the reservoir development, and (4) a protection area. -water critical area where only partial development could take place. Rim Fisher of the Jahn McAdams Company, pointed out on the proposeu land use map for the West Orange area, the water critical areas, existing reservoirs, proposed commercial and industrial transition area, 10 and 20 year transition areas, and agricultural and residential areas as they are now. He further explained the six (fi) phases of the proposed sewer. Phase 1 would be considered immediately with the other phases in the near future. The components of the sewer system included: (1) 25,000 linear feet of gravity lines; (2) three force mains - 2", 3" and 6" that run to Hillsborough; (3) three pump stations and (4) 182 stubouts for connection. 1~~ 2 Out of the phase 1 service area, SS,000 gallons of sewage a day is expected. With phases 2 through 6, an additional 61,000 gallons a day sewage is expected far a total of 5116,000 ar S.8$ of Hillsborough's 2.0 mg capacity. There is an allowance of 20,000 gallons of sewage a day far potential growth in the area. Tn accordance with the Farmers Home - Administration's program, only a 6" line could be justified. A larger line could be installed with someone paying the difference. The cost of the 6 phases totals 52,126,150.p0 Revenue Sources: 5289,311 FHA (38 year repayment) 5453,467 FH Grant 5137.287 FH Participation Grant 5 85,000 ~ Orange County Funds These figures are based on 425 sewer service connections in the 6 phase area and a 5200.00 tap fee. The annual maintenance and operation cost of 553,175 is subject to further negotiations with Hillsborough. The cost of connection from the house to the sewer stubout would be an estimated 55.00 per foot. County Manager Thompson outlined four (4) costs that would be paid by the customer: (1) Debt service paid by all owners of properties that would be improved. (2) 5200.00 connection fee during the initial phase. (3) Monthly fee for maintenance and operation.. - (4) Cost of extending the line from the stubout to the septic tank at 55.00 per foot. Kim Fisher stated that the monthly charge for a usage of 5,000 gallons would be 519.00 minimum rate with an increasing scale -next 5,000 at 58 per 1,000 gallons - next 5,000 at 59.00 per 1000.gallons or a flat rate of 54.65 per 1,000 gallons with a minimum cost of 518.60 for the first 4,000 gallons and a flat rate of 54.65 for every 1,000 gallons over that usage. Commissioner V7alker questioned the feasibility of putting in the 6" line without additional capacity to take care of future industry. Fisher stated that the 26 homes in Efland Estates would be treated the same as the 182 homes. FHA has indicated they would ,pay for the line to be brought to the property line and each individual would pay to have the line run into the house or septic tank. The financial means to run this line into the septic tank- of the low income people was questioned. Commissioner Wfllhoit questioned if the 182 homeowners knew they had _ to connect onto this line. He reemphasized that the Board will continue efforts to find a mechanism to extend sewer and solve the immediate ..__ problems and also future problems. Commissioner whitted questioned the information received from FHA. The initial project to be financed by FHA was to build a collector system and package plant for the 26 homes in Efland Estates Subdivision with each home connected thereon. He commented that this project is not going to meet the needs of the Efland Estates, Efland School or other homes in the area. A citizen. spoke in support of something being done about the poor septic tanks in the Efland area. Mr. Cox questioned the EPA approval for the Hillsborough 201. study. *~ ~ .i~c: 3 Commissioner Willhoit felt the report lacked detail with reference to an establishment of an enterprise fund and the mechanism by which this fund would be repaid by the beneficial users of the system and clarification of cost for Efland Estates. John McAdams suggested supplemental funding to help eliviate some cost to the homeowners. He offered to study the sewer situation fund and also to talk with FHA. Max Kennedy, President of the Orange County School Board, urged the -. Commissioners to finalize the plans far the sewer for Efland Schools as soon as possible. Commissioner Fillhoit stated that when all the needed information is provided he will call a special meeting to consider moving ahead with the Cheeks Township water and' sewer extension, and that the reservoir study, because of its implication an the land use plan, should go to Public Hearing. Commissioner Whitted suggested a meeting with FHA to clarify the usage of grant money and why they have changed their position. He expressed concern about the expense of the project and the small capacity. Mr. Cox expressed his concern about the water resource impact on the sewer line and requested a meeting with the Board of Commissioners tp offer comments on this subject. Commissioner Willhoit noted that the County wants to cooperate with the town to provide the service to correct the problems and also to provide fox the orderly growth of that area. Thompson noted the finances for the project as "marginally feasible". There was a consensus that the reservoir study be put on the February -- 27th agenda. Commissioner Lloyd indicated that the people of Cheeks Township da not know how the zoning will influence the land use plan but ,that the people of Cheeks township are willing to work on this together. Carl Walters, menber of the Planning Board, indicated that from all the meetings held, there was no objection to the zoning of Cheeks township. Commissioner Willhoit indicated that it is necessary far the Planning Board to look at both the Efland Sewer study and the Reservoir study to see their impact on the West Orange Land Use Plan and requested an update from the Planning Board. 2. ESTB.F~LId~XNG_ A_ DAT$ F(~$_p~_.PUBLIC H~a~N[C Aj]_ THE E~'j~~XTENSION NO DECISION 3. ~$TABLISF]~,Zj,~, -p,, DATA FOjj_'].'j~~~ONSTDF~$8~',jON_ nF7.Ah7TTS -- TOWNSHIP NO DECISION Don Willhoit, Chair Beverly Blythe, Clerk APpROV~ 4/17/g4