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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-16-2010-13 (1):~n-Fvc-ma~- ~ ~n Z+2rrl ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director Administration ®`arg° ~~`'~A (919) 245-2575 ~ 131 W. Margaret Ln. (919) 644-3002 (FAX) " ~ '' P. O. Box 8181 www.co.orange.nc.us ~o ~~~es Hillsborough, NC 27278 ~~h Ea<°, ;.s-.~. MEMORANDUM TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners COPIES: Frank Clifton, County Manager FROM: Craig Benedict, Planning and Inspections Director Kevin Lindley, PE, Staff Engineer DATE: October 28, 2010 SUBJECT: Central Efland and Northern Buckhorn Sewer Expansion Project Update We are continuing to move steadily towards permitting of the Central Efland and Northern Buckhorn sewer expansion project. The permit application package was delivered to the NC Construction Grants and Loans Office on September 27, 2010. Staff is awaiting the first round of comments from their plan reviewers. State Revolving Loan Financing As part of the meeting to submit the permit application, staff met with members of the Construction Grants and Loans office who administer State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loans. Approximately two-thirds of the construction cost of this project will be paid with SRF loans. Our discussion with SRF staff revealed that Orange County is slightly ahead of schedule with regards to the loan application process, since we have already received approval for the project's preliminary engineering report and environmental approval. We have several milestone dates to achieve as part of the application process. The first of which requires that the project's plans and specifications be approved and a permit issued by January 31, 2011. Based on our submission date of September 27, 2011, this should not be an issue. Status of Grants The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office has processed our application for the Special Appropriations (SPAP) grants that were earmarked for the project back in 2003 and 2005. We have been in contact with our EPA review officer, Artie Buff, who believes the notification of award should be coming in the next few weeks. These two grants will provide approximately one-third of the construction costs of the Central Efland/ Northern Buckhorn project. Easement Acquisition Work continues on gathering the necessary documents and information to acquire easements for the sewer line. At this stage, all of the easement plats for the Central Efland and Northern Buckhorn area have been completed by Coulter, Jewell & Thames (CJT), the engineering firm for the project. The legal descriptions of the easements in the Central Efland area have almost been completed by the County Attorney's office. Once these are complete, the Northern Buckhorn area descriptions will be done. While this work is proceeding, staff will begin contacting by letter all property owners from whom easements are needed. Some of these contacts have already been initiated.. The goal is to have the easement acquisition process completed by the end of March 2011. This portion of the project is a critical path, because the contract cannot be awarded until the easements have been obtained. Customer Information Packet An information packet for potential new customers to the Efland and City of Mebane (North Buckhorn) sewer systems has been developed and was presented to the BOCC on June 15, 2010. This packet has both general and specific information on the sewer expansion project, the process of connecting to the sewer system and the costs involved with connecting to the sewer system. The community meetings to distribute these have not yet taken place, but should take place before the end of the year. Railroad Right-of-Way Licenses The process of obtaining licenses to install a portion of the sewer line in the railroad right-of--way is underway. Our license applications for areas of occupancy in both the Northern Buckhorn section and two areas in Central Efland have been accepted by the NC Railroad Company, pending payment of the required fees and provision of insurance information. Water and Sewer District Concert With the existing Efland sewer system poised for expansion, staff has been investigating the concept of forming a County Water and Sewer District or Districts as a way to more efficiently provide water and sewer service to those for whom it is available and to promote Economic Development. This concept was presented to the BOCC several weeks ago and staff was authorized to put together the necessary information for a public hearing regarding the establishment of a water and sewer district(s). Next Sters Moving forward, once our permitting application has been reviewed by the State, the packet will be sent to the EPA for a second review. Concurrent with these reviews, County staff will continue to work on acquiring easements and railroad occupancy licenses. Also during the plan review phase, the Construction Grants and Loans division can begin processing our application for State Revolving Loan Funds, which will be used to finance the construction portion of the sewer expansion.