HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2005-012- Health - Homestead Community Center Wastewater System RepairORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 15, 2005
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Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -M
-SUBJECT: Homestead Community Center Wastewater System Repair
DEPARTMENT: Manager /Engineer /Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
4/12/04 Environmental Health Staff Memo
Proposed Homestead Center Sewer
Connection Capital Project Ordinance
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rod Visser or Paul Thames, 245 -2300
Ron Holdway, 245 -2371
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732 -8181
Chapel Hill 968 -4501
Durham 688 -7331
Mebane 336- 227 -2031
PURPOSE: To consider approving a capital project ordinance that will appropriate funds for
remediating the failing septic system at Homestead Community Center by means of a sewer
extension from the Community Center to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority's sanitary
sewer system; and that will provide funding for this connection.
BACKGROUND: The Homestead Community Center is a County - owned facility that is
managed by the Recreation and Parks Department, and is located at the intersection of
Homestead Road and Lake Hogan Farms Road just north of the Carrboro municipal limits.. The
septic system at this facility failed in 2004. During recent months, the building has been able to
remain open and in service because the County has arranged for the septic tank to be pumped
out and the waste hauled away several times a week. This approach is viable in the short term,
but is not an appropriate long -term solution.
Environmental Health staff identified several options that could remediate the situation, as
described in the attached memo. Either of the two less expensive options will place operational
constraints on the number of people that can use the building weekly, and raise substantial
concerns that some of the large old trees at the Community Center could be damaged or
destroyed while trying to make system repairs.
About 65 percent of the building's 3200 square feet is comprised of the one large meeting
room. Assuming that the Homestead Center will continue to be used extensively for many
years to come, staff believe that it makes sense to invest a larger sum of money (estimated at
between $60,000 - $90,000) to achieve the permanent solution of connecting to the OWASA
system, which would permit unrestricted (with regard to wastewater capacity) use of the facility.
The nearest possible connection point from the Homestead Center to the OWASA system
appears to be about 600 -700 feet, with a total project cost estimated by OWASA staff for
2
planning purposes at about $100 - $125 per linear foot. Depending on the length of time
necessary to carry out the planning, permitting, design, and construction of the sewer extension,
the project could take six months or longer to complete.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for an.extension to the OWASA sanitary sewer system is
requested in an amount not to exceed $90,000. Staff recommends the project be funded
through a portion of the net two- thirds debt reduction bonds that the County issued in 2004.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) endorse the concept of connecting the Homestead Center.to the OWASA sewer system;
2) authorize the Manager and staff to work with OWASA to develop and execute the
appropriate documents associated with the design and construction of the sewer system;
and
3) approve the attached capital project ordinance that would fund the sewer extension by
means of net two- thirds debt reduction bonds.
O 3
North Carolina Public Health
ORANGE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Rosemary L. Summers,
MPH, DrPH
Health Director
Richard E. Whiffed Human
Services Center
300 West Tryon Street
Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2411
Fax: (919) 644 -3007
www. co. orange. nc. us /health
Animal Control Services
Central Administrative
Services
Dental Health Services
Environmental Health Services
Health Promotion and
Education Services
Personal Health Services
306 -C Revere Road
P O Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2360
FAX: (919) 644 -3006
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Memorandum
To: Ron Holdway
From: Tom Konsler
Date: April 12, 2004
Cc: Paul Thames
Re: Repair of Wastewater System at the Homestead Center [7.109..26]
As you know, the septic system at the Homestead Center has failed and is being pumped
out periodically through Public Works until it can be replaced. Alan & Greg have
evaluated the site and have identified suitable areas in which to construct replacement
drainfields. We have reviewed both water usage records and attendance figures for the
past year at the center and have come up with a reasonable average design flow, but with
peak daily flows that will exceed the drainfield capacity if flow equalization is not
factored in.
Here are the options as I see them:
1. Connect the facility to the OWASA sewer system and abandon the existing
septic system. Since sewer is not adjacent to the property, an extension of the
sewer main would have to be constructed at the County's expense. Paul Thames
estimates a cost in excess of $50,000. While this would be an expensive option,
it would afford no limitations on use of the facility in the future with regards to
wastewater.
2. Install a conventional system without flow equalization with a daily capacity of
510 gallons per day. This would translate to a restriction on activities to no more
than 102 people per day. Based on past activity at the center, a system of this
type would require that restrictions be imposed on use of the facility. The cost
estimate of this system would be $5,000.
3. Install a conventional drainfield of 510 gallons per day and dose it from a flow
equalization storage tank with a timer - controlled pump. This option is more
expensive than Option 3, but would allow for peak usage above 102 people per
day provided the total weekly usage is restricted to 715 people per week. This
appears to be within the actual weekly usage for the heaviest 3 months of use in
2004.. Based on water meter readings and past usage records, this type of
system would allow continued use of the facility at its current level. System
tracking and telemetry would be designed into the system to allow day -to -day
monitoring. If actual use is substantially lower than projected use, the data may
justify future increase in the facility use. Likewise, it would alert the County to
misuse or overuse of the system. A flow equalization system is estimated to cost
$12,000.
I have already issued the Improvement Permit for the site and am prepared to issue the
Construction Authorization. First, the County needs to decide which option to pursue on
this so that repairs can proceed. Currently sewage backs up into the building and /or
seeps out on the ground during periods of heavy use and this needs to be corrected as soon as possible. In the
interim, the Public Works has been instructed to have the septic tank pumped out at a frequency to prevent the
discharge or backup of sewage. Just let me know how to proceed on this or who else may need to be
contacted. Thanks
Homestead Community Center Repairs 5
Capital Project Ordinance
Be it ordained by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners that pursuant to Section
13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the following capital project is
hereby adopted.
Section 1.The project authorized provides funds to connect the Homestead Community
Center to Orange Water and Sewer Authority sewer lines. Proceeds from the 2004
two- thirds net debt reduction bonds will finance the authorized project.
Section 2.The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the project within the
budget contained herein.
Section 3.The following revenue is anticipated to complete this project:
Section 4.The following amount is appropriated for this project:
Through FY
2003 -04
FY 2004 -05
Through FY
2004 -05
Sales Tax
$0
$0
$0
1997 Bond Funds
$0
$0
$0
2004 Two - Thirds Net Debt
$0
$90,000
$90,000
Grant Funds
$0
$0
$0
Fees
$0
$0
$0
Other
$0
$0
$0
Total Funding
$0 1
$90,000
$90,000
Section 4.The following amount is appropriated for this project:
Section 5. This ordinance shall remain in effect from March 15, 2005 until June 30, 2006.
Adopted this 15th day of March 2005.
Through FY
2003-04
FY 2004 -05
Through FY
2004-05
IaudBuil
$0
$0
$0
Desi
$0
$0
$0
Constnactian
$0
$0
$0
Other
$0
$90,000
$90,000
Total Costs
$0
$901000
$90,000
Section 5. This ordinance shall remain in effect from March 15, 2005 until June 30, 2006.
Adopted this 15th day of March 2005.
- e_X 5 - v / z,
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m
held in October 2005 and authorized staff to carry out the necessary administrative and
logistical tasks associated with the conference.
L Budget Amendment #9
The Board approved budget ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2004 -05 for
Department of Social Services, Department on Aging, Orange Public Transportation,
Recreation and Parks Department, Governing and Management — Non - Departmental, Arts
Commission, and Human Services — Non - Departmental.
k. Orange County Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Task Force Formation
This item was removed and placed at the end of the consent agenda for separate
consideration.
I. Orange County Transportation Priority List for 2007 -2013 TIP
The Board adopted the resolutions (Attachments 2 and 3) endorsing priority
transportation projects for inclusion in the 2007 -2013 Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP).
m. Homestead Community Center Wastewater System Repair
The Board endorsed the concept of connecting the Homestead Center to the OWASA
sewer system; authorized the Manager and staff to work with OWASA to develop and execute
the appropriate documents associated with the design and construction of the sewer system;
and approved the attached capital project ordinance that would fund the sewer extension by
means of net two - thirds debt reduction bonds.
n. Approval of Grant Application Submission to Expand RSVP Disaster
Preparedness Program for Seniors, Particularly for Vulnerable and Disabled
Persons
The Board authorized RSVP to apply for the Project of Nation Significance (PNS) grant
application for $20,000 annually to expand its existing volunteer disaster preparedness
program, which aims to empower seniors to better deal with natural disasters through
information, training, and special projects, subject to any final review by staff and the County
Attorney.
VOTE ON CONSENT AGENDA: UNANIMOUS
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:
h. Bid Award: Mobile Trailer for Mass Medical Distribution /Site Area Command
Post
The Board considered awarding a bid to Kraftsman, Inc. for the purchase of a Mass
Medication Distribution Site /Site Area Command Post trailer to be shared between the Orange
County Emergency Management and the Orange County Health Department and authorize the
Purchasing Director to execute the necessary paperwork.
Commissioner Jacobs asked about the difference in cost between the two final bids.
Jack Ball said that the vendor that is higher builds the trailers from scratch and the lower bidder
uses existing box trailers and modifies them. The County has experienced success with the
lower bidder.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to
award bid number 1422 to Kraftsman, Inc. of Ramseur, North Carolina for the Mass Medication
Distribution Site /Site Area Command Post trailer and authorize the Purchasing Director to
execute the necessary paperwork.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
k. Orange County Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Task Force Formation