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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 03-15-2005-5mORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 15, 2005 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 roam. 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 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. 3 Memorandum Noah cmolina Pubik Naollh ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Richard E. Whiffed Human Services Center 300 West Tryon Street Post OfFlce Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone:(9i9)245-2411 Fax: (919) 649-3007 www co o~ange.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 6181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone: (919) 245-2360 FAX: (919) 644-3006 u Z cn v m c v E c 0 L_ C W To: Ron I-Ioldway From: Tom IConsler Date: April 12, 2004 Cc: Paul Thames Re: Repair of Wastewater System at the Homestead Center [7.109.26] As you laiow, 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 desilm 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: 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. Install a conventional system without flow equalization with a daily capacity of 51.0 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. Install a conventional drainfield of 510 gallons per day and dose it from a flow equalization storage tank with atimer-conholled 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 Yelemehy 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 Carstruction 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 he corrected as soon as possible. In the interim, the Public Works has been instructed to have the septic tank pumped out at a fi°eduency to prevent the discharge or baclmp of sewage.. Just let me lmow how to proceed on this or who else may need to be contacted. Thanks Homestead Community Center Repairs 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: Through FY 2003-04 FY 2004-OS Through FY 2004-OS 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 TotalFundin $0 $90,000 $90,000 Section 4.The following amount is appropriated for this project: Through FY 2003-04 FY 20(kl-OS Through FY 2004-OS uxUBuilding $0 $0 $0 Design $0 $0 $0 Construction $0 $0 $0 OOrer $0 $90,000 $90,000 Total Casts $0 $90,000 $90,000 Section 5. This ordinance shall remain in effect from March 15, 2005 until June 30, 2006, Adopted this 15u' day of March 2005,