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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19890911~' PAGE 1 APPROVED 10(89 -~:,-. r ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 1989 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on September 11, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom, Hillsborough, North Garolina. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the County role in the inspection, maintenance and operation of alternative wastewater systems. BOARD MEMBERS. PRESENT: Chairman Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell and Shirley E. Marshall. BOARD MEMBER ABSENT: Don Willhoit ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Albert Kittrell, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, Sanitarians Tvny Laws and Ron Holdway, Health Director Dari Re'`'amer, Planner Mary Scearbo and County Engineer Paul" Thames. OTHERS PRESENT: Planning Board Director Barry Jacobs, Health Board members Riley Wilson and Ar. Beal, Executive Director of OWASA Everett Billingsley, Ed Holland representing the water subcommittee of the Intergovernmental Group and Interim OWASA Board Chair Verla Insko. OPENING REMARKS BY BOARD CHAIR Chairman Moses Carey stated that this meeting will give everyone,i.nvalved with the issue an opportunity to raise any concerns or questions they may have so that the County staff can take these questions and concerns into consideration when formulating a recommendation that will subsequently be considered by all organizations involved. He thanked the Board of Health for providing the initial proposal and the Orange County Intergovernmental Group for their report and recommendations. Commissioner Marshall raised the question of whether there should be a public hearing, who should conduct the public hearing, if the Board of Health should formally adapt the proposal, if the Board of Commissioners should adopt the proposal or proposals, etc. Chairman Carey indicated his understanding is that the final recommendations will be a public health function so that the Board of Health would have to approve the proposal but the Board of Health needs same direction from the Board of Commissioners. All of the groups represented at this meeting have a role in looking at and making comments on the final recommendations. The role and responsibility far enforcing these recommendations will be discussed further. Dan Reimer commented that he realizes that some issues of the Health Department cannot find solutions by themselves. .They have been looking at the protection of the water supply as a priority for several years. They are already doing operation and maintenance of alternative systems. The $oard of Health has taken this very seriously. The second draft was adopted because they felt it needed some review from environmental health. It is very detailed but a lot. more research needs to be done. ...... - PAGE 2 County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill gave a brief explanation of how the County got where we are. He explained that there was never any ques~,ipn that the local health - department could not create their own program to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Orange County. Ron Holdway briefly described the contents of the proposal titled A Proposal.. to Establish an Operation and Maintenance Program for Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems in Orange County". A copy of this proposal is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office. Discussion ensued on several aspects of the proposal but no decisions were reached on any one specific item in the proposal. Sludge sites were discussed, as was the need for Hillsborough to have their own facility for disposal of sludge. The Board asked for a list of permitted sites in the area. Commissioner Halkiotis inquired if any other counties have similar proposals. Tony Laws stated that Wake-County's proposal focuses o:~ package plants. The Board" indicated a desire to visit a county that has a similar proposal in place. Aan Reimer continued outlining the proposal by reviewing the funding mechanisms on page 13 of the proposal. Ed Holland painted out that Jay Bryant who served on the water committee ' ...- disagreed with the subcommittee recommendation that all alternative systems in the water supply watershed should have a backup system in case of failure. Jahn Link pointed out that there is a concern about the number of septic tanks that may be failing. Commissioner Halkiotis expressed a concern about other counties dumping their sludge in Orange County. Even if it is dumped an private land and it is in the watershed, it is a threat to the public health, safety and welfare. , In answer to a question about the estimated cost of implementing the program as proposed with all the components, Dan Reimer stated that they will be meeting with the State and will have abetter estimate after that meeting. The need for a public awareness/education program was discussed. Implications of the county providing assistance to a system owner when the County did not help with the design of the system were discussed. Ron Holdway stated that they could provide direction on the majority of the repairs and if they did not know the answer could refer the system owner to engineers or others in the field. It would increase the liability to the County and increase the workload. John Link stated his preference to have the owner of the system maintain and operate the system. Everett Billingsley expressed concerns about private companies operating the water systems. The question of responsibility for operation and maintenance of the system was discussed. John Link indicated that another alternative is to legally band the developer to :L ~~ PAGE 3 i reserve capital to repair and/or Replace the system if need be. decided that the question of permitting alternative systems in the rill have to be addressed by the governing Boards and in the context of protection. rimer emphasized that the main interest of the Health Department is public =ety and welfare. He hopes the program will be viewed as an enabling well as an enforcement program. :ink recommended that the Health Director, County Engineer and other staff neet and review the proposal and try to address those concerns voiced at 7g. They will then prepare a document to go to Joint Public Hearing far vents. After the public hearing, the questions and concerns again will be end another document prepared for a second public hearing before adopting a .y. ssioner Marshall asked that responsibilities be outlined for the Health Planning ,Board and the Board of Commissioners. She suggested that after public hearing that it go back to the Healfh Board for action and r Ciarr,to the Board of Commissioners. There was a consensus that this would cess followed. no'.further comments, Chairman Carey adjourned the Special Meeting. The ar meetirig.of the Board will be held on September 19, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in oom of the old Post Office, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Blythe, Clerk Moses Carey, Jr., Chairman l i