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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-18-1985 SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE MANGE COUNTY BOARD CV COVISSIONKRS A joint meeting between the Board of Commissioners and • the Hillsborough Town Council will be held on Decenber 18, 1985 at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Diner, 600 West King Street, Hillsbofough. The items for discussion include: 1. Water resources. 2* Allocation of State water and sewer funds. 3. Other land use planning items. County Ccamissioners and Town Ccamissioners' will meet for dinner at 6:00 p.m. Although there are limited seats, the press and public are invited to join, the Boards for dinner. The official meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. tit) )2 Don Willhoit, Chair /bab 12/12/85 . I WATER/WASTEWATER CALCULATIONS — HILLSBOROUGH 1 . Current Water Treatment Plant Capacity 3.0 NOD 2. Current Wastewater Plant Capacity 2.0 MGD 3. CurrentjUee a . Wetter 1 .4 MGO b. Wastewater 8 MGD 4. Approy,eti Deye Lopmpnts High/Medium Scenarios a . Wi dwood Section III o 12.97 acres , R-4 zoning o Assume 11 .02 acres developed o TOTAL: 44 units 19,800/13,200 GPO b . We Property a 41 .8 acres, R-3 zoning o Assume 35.53 acres developed o TOTAL: 106 units 47,700/31 ,800 GPD c. Scho Ler Property o ) 12.4 acres , R-3 zoning o Assume 10.54 scree developed o TOTAL: 31 units 13,850/8300 GPO d . Meadowlands 300,000 GPO . a. Wood's Edge o TOTAL: 52 mobile homes )2 bedrms i2 bedrws. per unit) 15,600 GPO f. Coder Creek Condominiums o TOTAL: 160 units 72,000/48,000 GPO g . CoenweLlie Hills o TOTAL: 111 units 48,850/53,300 GPD TOTAL ESTIMATED USE 518,000/451 ,200 GPO WATER REATMENT PLANT: o REMAINING CAPACITY 1 ,108,100/1 ,148,800 GPO o % OF PLANT CAPACITY USED 64% /62 % WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: o REMAINING CAPACITY 681 ,000/748 ,800 GPD o % OF PLANT CAPACITY USED 66% /63 % • n • • 5. Proposed Developments e Um ScenerjQ,g_ a . Scotswood o 410 single family units. . . 184,500/123,000 GPD o 216 multifamily units (2 bedrms per unit) 64,800 GPD o ESTIMATED USE 249,300/187,800 GPO b . Wi ldwaod Section Iv 0 28.80 acres, R-4 Izoning o Assume 24.48 acres developed o TOTAL: 88 units 44,100/29,400 GPO TOTAL ESTIMATED USE 293,400/217,200 GPO WATER TREATMENT PLANT: o REMAINING CAPACITY o % OF PLANT CAPACITY USED 787,600/931 ,4%0 GPO 74% / 69% WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: o REMAINING CAPACITY 387,600/531 ,600 o % OF PLANT CAPACITY USED 81% GPD B1% / 73% • (e) Assu a 150 gallons per day (GPO) per bedroom . (b) High scenario— 3 bedrooms per seen rio— 2 bedrooms per dwelliinglunit . Floth unit ; medium were used, unless a site plan specified the number bedrooms per unit . Assumed 2 bedrooms (c) Subtracted out 15% for roads . Per mobile home . (d) "Sewer System Fesibitity Stud y for Areer. E C Maguire, Inc . May g Central Orange Study (a) Subt acted out 5 mobile homes forwhich buildin have been issued. 9 permits (f) Assumed 150 GPD of wastewater (per bedroom) is treated. (g) These figures do not account for groundwater infiltration into the sewer tines . (h) The figures do not reflect the amount of wastewater treatment capacity earmarked for the Eflend area . The initial capacity set aside for the Eflend area will be 55,000 GPD, and will eventually be expanded to 325 ,00D GPD . • - 1 APPROVED 2/18/86 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 18, 1985 The Orange county Board of Commissioners met in joint session withlthe Hillsborough Town Board. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Don Willhoit, and Commissioner Shirley Marshall, Moses Carey, Ben Lloyd and Norman Walker. TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Horace Johnson and Remus Smith. 1 Mayor Frank Sheffield made opening remarks. He listed three items for discussion: (1) Availability of water for northern Orange County. (2) Allocation of State water and sewer funds and the poOsibility of the town receiving some additional grant funds from orange County beyond what would otherwise be.available. (3) Miscellaneous items including land use planning and telephone service. Don Willhoit expressed his desire that everyone under- stand the water resources study that was done by the State • and provides 1 information on instream flow needs and. capacity levels with regard to the long range water supply situation involving OWASA and any impact on growth. WATER RESOURCES Ken ThOmpson gave an overview of the water resources study and the data base that was used in the report. Town Board member Horace Johnson pointed out that the report is just one opinion. The problem is not as severe as proposed in the report and he suggested that another study be conducted. 1 Don Wil3.hoit pointed out that the report was prepared in cooperation with the state and the instream requirements were provided by the State. Don Cordell indicated that the Division of Water Re- sources took the 40 year data base that was kept of the Eno River and assumed various rates of withdrawal independent of the source of withdrawal. The levels of Lake Orange were monitored during drought periods which gave a statistical pattern as to how much of the lake would be drawn down in any given summer'. The conclusion was that every other year the County could run out of water. He stated that it is the opinion of. Hazen and Sawyer that northern Orange county is facing a short term crisis over the next several years and that any amount of growth will severely tax the available resources. the average yield for Lake Orange is 2.2MGD. He stated that full benefits are not being derived from Lake Ben Johnson and Corporation Lake because the lakes are being kept 2 full. He explained that a 20-year return on a safe yield means that lif you get 2MGD, there is a statistical probability that one year out of 20 the river plus the stored water will not be sufficient volume to provide that yield. To establishl yield, the volume of the lake and the historical strength load levels are used to predict what the inflow of the lake will be, and by doing a mass balance determine if the water going out is more than that going in. If so, the difference mast come from storage. The problem is that with a limited amount of storage, the outflow can only exceed inflow by some amount which is the amount stored in the lake which has sufficient volume to offset. Mayor Sheffield pointed out that a problem exists with Corporation r,,ake in that it must overflow in order for water to get into Lake Ben Johnson. Ken Thpmpson reported that corrective measures are outlined which would give access to the increased volume of storage in Lake Ben Johnson. Chair Willhoit noted that if the modifications were made to the three; reservoirs, the safe yield could increase water availabilityjto 4MGD. Mayor Sheffield noted that the study was based on 1983 levels of consumption and that since that time projects have been either proposed or approved totaling 800,000 to 1,000,000 MGD and adding this to the 1.3MGD totals 2.3MGD. Chair Willhoit noted OWASA has a temporary impoundment at Cane Creek and it would be unreasonable for Hillsborough to put lime s on its own growth by selling water to OWASA. The Orange County Board of Commissioners was unanimous in not supporting such a move. He noted it would seem appropriate to continue selling water to OWASA as long as water is running over the dam at Lake Ben Johnson. Long term would be to allocate water from Jordan Lake for the northern part of Orange County. Once Cane Creek comes on line, it would be a potential water supply for Northern Orange County. Chair Willhoit pointed out that the County's responsi- bility in providing water resources needs to be defined. The County has taken the responsibility of identifying reservoir sites and instituting watershed protective measures for the reservoirs. 1 While the County can do the planning, the revenues to pay for the reservoir should come from those who benefit most. Commissioner Walker indicated he felt the County should cooperate with the Town and help provide for the extension ed with spending the clean 'sa re g • sewer. Heda. P of water and disagreed bond money for the expansion of the system but would agree to spend the money to increase water supply. Mayor Sheffield noted that the Town raised the water rates by 7% and the tap fee by $200 for water reservoir improvementsi to Lake Ben Johnson and not for system improvements: Horace Johnson noted that half of the 3500 water custo-' mere are in the County. Chair Willhoit pointed out that it would be inappropri- ate for the County to raise the tax rate to fund a reservoir and that several other approaches are available. The County , 3 would not have a revenue source to pay back the money borrowed to build the reservoir. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS Don Cordell referred to the list of things that could be done to get more out of the existing water supply. He prioritized those items: 1. - L2IJhE ORANGE - Raise the present normal lake level 2 I feet by installing a rigid flashboard system across the present spillway crest. 2. STORAGE AT CORPORATION LAKE - Provide gravity bypass around existing dam at Corporation Lake to al ow for normal operation of lake at water levels le s than full, thereby increasing the safe yield av ilable from the upstream drainage area. 3. FLSHBOARDS AT CORPORATION LAKE - Add flashboards to raise the normal lake levels. The twol priorities at Lake Ben Johnson include: 1. Raislp the present lake level by 2 feet by installing flashbobrds. 2. Remove accumulated sediments upstream of the bypass sluice gate to assure proper operation of the sluice gate and allow for normal operation of Lake Ben Johnson at less than full pool elevations. Don Cordell pointed out that if all modifications could be done, the MGD would double. He encouraged the County to identify future sources of water supplyl. Mayor Fank Sheffield responded that the Town has. agreed to raise thp level of Lake Ben Johnson by two feet at an estimated copt of $75,000. All modifications outlined in the report would cost approximately $120,000. In the County matches funds by using the State grant money, the modifica- tions could be completed in a shorter period of time. Chair Wilihoit stated that the County will receive $98,000 ove a two year period and the money will be used first for the improvements on Lake Orange and then improve- ments on the' capacity of Lake Ben Johnson and Corporation Lake. He questioned the funding source for matching and Mayor Sheffield indicated his hope that Chapel Hill and Carrboro will contribute a portion of what they receive from the state grant to make the improvements at Lake Ben Johnson since these improvements would benefit Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as Hillsborough because OWASA draws from that supply. Chair Wilihoit concurred with Sheffield's suggestion. He noted that a cooperative effort needs to be worked out whereby OWASA's water demands can be met without jeopardizing the availability of water for everyone. In answer to a question from Remus Smith, Ken Thompson indicated bids would be received in February or March for the 1 4 Efland Sewer and that some of the funds from the State Grant may be used for that system. Frank Sheffield reiterated his proposal for matching the $60,000 with; $60,000 from the County. He suggested a joint management lf fort for the three reservoirs to maximize the use of each Pone. In answer to an inquiry from Don Cox about management, Don Cordell) indicated management would include controlling the releases from Lake Orange and the levels at Lake Ben Johnson andl Corporation Lake at something less than full. One individual who understands the concept would be advis- able. Don Wiltlhoit pointed out that for the entire proposal to result in thie maximum yield, some changes would be needed at Orange Alamance Water Authority; such as a bypass so the water does not spill over. Ken Thompson reviewed the list of proposed policies that will first be considered by the Board of Commissioners and then by those who have stored water facilities. (A list of these polici' s are in the permanent agenda file.) When these policies are approved by the Board, an ordinance will be drafted outlining the specific allocation amounts and i method for monitoring the instream flow. NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THE PROPOSAL Ken Thompson pointed out that the authority for the ordinance comes from the State Stored Water Act which sets such rules to prevent a water shortage and would be implemen- ted by the County and binding by all parties involved. Chair Willhoit noted that the alternative to the County addressing this problem in this matter is for the State NRCD to declare capacity use area and for them to set the rules. NRCD prefersithat the local government control the situation and address the instream flow situation. In answer to a question from Commissioner Carey about the state requirements for instream flow, Ken Thompson indicated that while the State has certain rules on this requirement Ithey have called upon the County to establish such. A key concern of the State is when the water goes through theisystem and returns as wastewater to different basin. There is a concern that there is a waste treatment II plan discharging just below the Town and inadequate flow in the river toldilute that wastewater. Horace Johnson feels a priority list needs to be made and that money be allocated by the Town to improve Lake Ben Johnson. He suggested that a bypass be built around Corporation iLake next year and the following year raise the level of Lake Orange. Commissioner Marshall noted one of the highest priorities should be the improvement of Corporation Lake to get water back into the Neuse from Cape Fear. Mayor Sheffield indicated it would cost $15,000 to make the improvements to Corporation Lake versus $120,000 to make the improvements at Lake Ben Johnson. 5 Chair Willhoit noted a policy needs to be made on the amount of water Hillsborough sells to OWASA. Mayor Sheffield indicated the Town will provide to the County a schedule and cost estimate for the improvements to Lake Ben Johnson by the end of January or early February. Chair Willhoit clarified that: (1) the grant money would go to Hillsborough to be used for the improvements at Lake Ben Johnson' and Lake Orange, (2) that the County needs to work out an !arrangement with Orange Alamance Water Authority for the improvements needed to that system and (3) that the county needs to meet with Chapel Hill, Carrboro and OWASA. He noted that a schedule needs to be developed on phasing down the sale of water to OWASA over the next five years. Mayor Sheffield reiterated that the County would match funds for the improvements at Lake Ben Johnson with the Town being in charge of that project and on Lake Orange, the County would; be in charge of the project but the Town provide matching funds. Pertaining to Corporation Lake, Orange Alamance Water Authority and the County would need to come to an agreement on the improvements on a matching basis. Mayor Sheffield indicated the Town is prepared to match the money 'for improvements to Lake Ben Johnson and will consider matching the funds needed for the improvements to Lake Orange. Several property owners around Lake Orange expressed a concern about the lack of communication and asked to have input beforejthe improvements are finalized. Chair Willhoit assured the citizens there would be a public hearing on any improvements considered. Chair Willhoit summarized the decisions made : (1) A meeting will be held with Chapel Hill, Carrboro and OWASA tol discuss the proposal. (2) A meeting will be held with Orange Alamance Water A4hority. (3) A meeting will be held with the Water Committee followed by a report to the County Commissioners. COUNTY PROPOSALS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE Chair Willhoit noted that on the telephone survey the County is establishing two telephone tasks forces. One will look at the question of extended area service between Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough and with in the Orange g County area, and one will be a technical task force to look at some of the system problems with Centel. He explained that on the extended area service, a vote topic and it was passed on this to was taken three years ago p II overwhelmingly by the Centel customers but was defeated in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Durham areas. He felt this proposal hadinot been adequately explained in the Chapel Hill area because it would have cost only .26 a month for residential customers. This new task force will look at what the cost would be today for extended service and the options available. If it looks feasible, the task force will either call for another vote or petition the Utilities Commission for toll free service within Orange County. He invited tatives of the members of the Town Board or other represen 6 Town to serve on this task force and asked for their support if this was put to a vote. Mayor 'Sheffield mentioned that the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant needs to be reviewed for possible expansion and the Countyls assistance in providing funds may be requested. Perhaps an engineering study needs to be done first to determine the costs. Chair Wilihoit adjourned the special meeting. The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on January 6, 1986, 7:30 p.m. in the Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Don Wilihoit, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk .. . ' . . . . . PROPOSED POLICY POSTTIONS . . . 1 • • ' 1. Deolsaration of Purpose . • . - - It lie hereby declared that the general Welfare and • •public interest require that.the Lake Crane -stored wat# resource of Orange County be •nonaged in . such a manner to provide optimum *public benefit, subject to • • reaSonable regulation in order to conserve this reecerce ' and' to provide and maintain conditions *which are eondu- 1 dive to the development and use of the Water. . 1 . 2. Capacity Condition . . a. Based upon available information from the NRCD Division of Water Resources (as rendered in a November 15, 1985 written report of the County I4anager: "Water Supply and Usage in the Upper Eno River Basin") the Board finds that usage of water released from Lake Orange is at or near capacity ' during periods of extended low stream flow in the Eno River. b. By "at or near capacity" it is meant that the . aggregate uses of the released water have developed • or threaten. 1 3. Back-up Supply Sources a. Orange Alamance 'Water Corporation Is called upon to enter into an agreement(s) kith other water pro- . viders to purchase water supplies for its customers in the Cape Fear Basin when the stream flow in the Eno has to be maintained by Lake Orange water releases and. the water level at Lake Orange has dropped to the emergency stage. . b. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority is called upon to limit this purchase of water from the Eno River . to periods when natural stream flow exits in the • river. Once water releases from Lake Orange are necessary to augment natural flow in the Eno, such purchases should cease. OWASA is further called upon to enter into an agreement(s) with other water providers to purchase water during these periods. c. The Town of Hillsborough is called upon to enter into an agreement(s) foe the purchase of water from • • I other water providers when the stream flow in the • Eno has to be maintained by Lake Orange water releases and the water level at Lake OrEinge has dropped to the ceergence stage. •. 4. Conservation and Regulation a. Ordinancee are directed to be developed to foster • e :ert11:i:r awl r.:11,]..7 1.T',-.cr ueo ;.:0 ti...z., sa-fe e .1 1 %eiel:e:.: f : :-i: ..,. 2) Lal. Orar:v:: ,.iz1,1 J.eter . . , ,,, . - . . ... q - '- . ,..' • . . • . . •,'- • . • 2 . .. • from other reservoirs as their safe-Yields are made ' effective. . . : . . ' -, • b. Since supply may be increased through reservoir . . improvement measures at Lake Orange, Corporation • Lake and Lake Pen Johnson each ordinance shall reflect the combined safe yield available at a given time. . - ... c. The Orange Alamance Water Corporation, the Town of • . . Hillsborot.gh and the OWASA are requested to identify by January 27, 1986 the improvement .. A measures, timetable and source of , financing they are willing to commit towards increasing the . . : . available supply. • . . . .;' :•?: d. Once the maximum withdrawal limits and instream '- flow requirements are established, consistent with . available supply and safeguards against water depletions which would injure the public safety health and welfare, it will be the responsibility F of local government and water purveyors to prohibit additional uses which singly or in aggregate would cause the water allocations.established by ordi- nance to be exceeded. , , 1 ' e. Instream flow requirements shall be based upon the . unadjusted 7 Q 10 flow rate below Lake Ben Johnson, as measured at the USGS/Orange County stream flow gage. This amount shall be reduced to a lessor . amount (to 0) as each successive stage of water level is reached at Lake Orange. . . ..: 1 • • f. Development approvals up to the allocation levels shall be staged in accordance with the amount of • demand and the timing required to provide major . . new', water supply. . . . . .. . . . • . 5. Planning for Major New Vater Supply , . •; a. Since improvement to existing reservoirs will be , inadequate to meet growth demands Orange County will join the water utility providers in the engineering study of new supply sources and sites. b. All utility providers are urged to begin now a • review of water rate structures to determine the capacity of these rates to develop a reserve to finance new construction for additional supply. . . . . . . •,1 . . ,. • . . ,, • . . . _ , -"f- •