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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-09-2005-0ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 9, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. - SUBJECT• Gravelly Hill Middle School and West Ten Soccer Park Electric Service DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 11/03/05 NCDOT Letter Map of Proposed Route Capital Project Ordinance INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, County Manager, 245-2300 Donna Dean, Budget Director, 245-2151 Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245- 2592 Paul Thames, County Engineer,245-2303 PURPOSE: To explain a more workable electric service route to service Gravelly Middle School and West Ten Soccer Park and to appropriate funds to accommodate the preferred route. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Board of Education plans to open Gravelly Hill Middle School in August 2006. The new school is immediately adjacent to the County's West Ten Soccer Park, which is likewise under development. Construction of the school building has been underway far approximately six months. Originally there was a question of which electrical service company would supply the site because it is on the border of Duke Power and Piedmont Electric service areas. Duke Power became the service provider and developed 1) a system plan on haw to service the area, since there was no adjacent service and 2) some estimates for underground electric to the school and park. Underground on-site electrical service to buildings is a requirement of the Economic Development District Design Guidelines. When original estimates were prepared for all underground service, the cost was mare than $250,000. Alternatives were sought, but most involved adding overhead electrical service in some manner that would have caused a critical delay due to change of the Special lJse Permit which regulates the school approval. An alternative was thought to have been feasible using I-85/I-40 NCDOT right-of-way and circling offsite Gravelly Hill Middle School site using the above right-of-way and the park property to the east (which is not subject to the Special Use Permit), The Board of Oounty Commissioners' actions to cause this route were approved on October 18, 2005, However, on November 3, 2005, NCDOT sent aletter/fax (see attached~to County Administration explaining the limitations and exclusions pertaining to the October 18~ I-85/I-40 route. These exclusions caused the I-85/I-40 route to be shifted back to school property into a position where more extensive environmental impacts may have occurred, Concurrently a field meeting was being held the same day to evaluate the I-85 option, However, with this situation in mind, noted in the NCDOT fax, afollow-up meeting was held on November 4~h with parties including Vice Chair Barry Jacobs, and Commissioner Stephen Halkiotis, and another service route proposal was painstakingly sought, The following November 4~h western route is a better alternative in many ways and permits all parties to achieve their goals of timeliness, lower shared cost, higher environmental sensitivity, and less paperwork, The new route (which harkens back to the original pre-I-85 alignment) accomplishes the following: 1) Shortest path route that can be accomplished in the proper timeframe for the projected school opening, 2) Exemplifies the collaboration and cost saving synergies between the Board of Education and Board of County Commissioners to locate school and park facilities together by sharing common electrical infrastructure (as was also achieved with water, sewer, and road access). This collaboration is similar to joint projects such as Twin Creeks Park, where the Board of County Commissioners and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education are locating joint facilities with joint responsibility and will be sharing costs to pay for water, sewer, and collector roads. 3) Uses existing underground electric conduit installed between proposed facilities already provided by Orange County Schools at a cost of approximately $20,000, 4) The western Gravelly Hill Middle School property route parallels the high power electrical transmission route, thereby removing the need to cut trees along the I-85/I-40 buffer, It also avoids conflicts with the upland swamp and vernal pools along the other east-west route, This new route is more environmentally sensitive. 5) The new western route eliminates the old proposal to place overhead electric on the County property where there would have to be site plan adjustments or sensitivity to underground water, gas services, street and future ball field lights and existing and proposed trees and landscaping and the need for easements. In addition, if and when the overhead electrical lines were requested by the Board of County Commissioners to be placed underground, there would be a cost to change the facility system of at least $100,000 in construction and associated document preparation, 6) There is no need far a Special Use Permit major change because on site electrical service to the school and park facilities are underground and only a small portion of the sub-feeder electrical distribution system that services the larger Duke service area is above ground, This arrangement provides a 'loop' system, improving the integrity of the system in times of emergency. 7) The original estimates discussed at the September 26, 2005 joint school boards meeting for underground electric service and distribution have been cut in half from approximately $250,000 to under $125,000, This number is in the process of being refined lower by Duke Power. Because the underground utilities will also benefit the County's soccer complex as Hated above, both entities will share equally in the cost at approximately $60,000 each, FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated cost of the proposed western route for electrical service to serve both the middle school and the soccer park is approximately $120,000. Orange County would pay for half of the cast, up to a total of $60,000. Staff recommends that funding come from interest earned and accumulated in the County Capital Project fund. A revised capital project ordinance for the new middle school appropriating this additional $60,000 in County funding is attached, Staff would include in a subsequent budget amendment the transfer of funds from the County Capital Project Fund to the School Capital Project Fund, RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1, Approve the proposed western route for electrical service at a cost to the County not to exceed $60,000; and 2. Approve the attached Gravelly Hill Middle School Capital Project Ordinance. pSTAIEO d r.•••~A ~P = 4; W ~ .~~n ~. STATE of NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MICHAEL F, EASLEY DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS LYNDO TIPPETT GOVERNOR SECRETARY November 3, 2005 Mr, John Link, .Jr, County Manager Orange County P. 0, Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Subject: Encroachment along the south side of I-40/85 at the northbound Weigh Station for the proposed OCS Middle School in Orange County Dear Mr, Link: This is to advise that I, along with Chuck Edwards, District Engineer, have reviewed the request of Orange County, to allow Duke Power Company to install a longitudinal encroachment along the south side of I-40/85, near the northbound weigh station, to service the proposed OCS Middle School As a part of this review process, I have also spoken to several representatives of Duke Power Company, relating to the installation and future maintenance of this proposed line, As you may, or may not be aware, our policy does not allow the longitudinal installation of any type of utility, other than those utilities that service Department of Transportation operations, along a controlled access facility, such as I-40/85, This would include the area in and around the northbound weigh station. However, after reviewing this situation, it has been agreed to allow the longitudinal installation of the Duke Power tine along the rear of the weigh station property, in the area that has already been cleared, to assist Orange County and Duke Power to provide service to the new school If this is agreeable, it will be necessary to submit a detailed plan for this installation along the rear of the weigh station property, to Chuck Edwards, District Engineer, for review and submittal to this office, ~ ~ .___._ I regret that I do not have a more favorable response for you, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ NOV - ; 2005 P. O. Box 14996, Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 Telephone No. (336) 334-3192 Fax No. (336) 334-3637 5 Mr. John Link, Jr. November 3, 2005 Page 2 However, this policy allows the Department of Transportation to not only provide a safer facility for the traveling public on I-40/85, but also to illustrate a strong environmental stewardship with the protection of the existing vegetation along the right of way. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office, Sincerely, ~~ ~gineer Cc: Mike Cowan Tommy Dyer Chuck Edwards u/e~/2e05 ll:sl t 5 `w off .~ Q.H 9196443002 ELECTRICITY OR. CTY. PLANNING ~... OII - OVERHEAD QPTION 3 U-UNDERGROUND PAGE 02/02 Gravelly Hill Middle School Orange County Schools 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 for the Orange County Schools to purchase property and design, construct, and equip a new middle school facility. Anticipated revenues for the project consist of 2001 voter approved bond funds, a private placement loan, and a transfer from the County Capital Fund. Section 2. The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the project within the budget contained herein. Section 3. The following County revenue is anticipated to complete this project: Through FY 2004-05 FY 2005-06 Through FY 2005-06 Sales Tax $0 $0 $0 c o0 ons ruc ion Impact Fees $0 $0 $0 raps er ram oun Ca ital Fund $0 $60,000 $60,000 2001 Bonds $18,500,000 $0 $18,500,000 Private Placement Loan $4,000,000 $0 $4,000,000 Total Count Fundin $22,500,000 $60,000 $22,560,000 Section 4. The following amount is appropriated for this project: Through FY 2004-05 FY 2005-06 Through FY 2005-06 Construction $15,889,393 $0 $15,889,393 Site Acxluisition $775,005 $0 $775,005 e uisi ion (Soils/fVlaterialsTesting, Surve $20,000 $0 $20,000 Site Development $2,485,602 $60,000 $2,545,602 Fees Arci~Eng/Design ~ $1,115,000 $0 $1,115,000 Nbveable Equi ment $600,000 $0 $600,000 Technol $650,000 $0 $650,000 Water Line $500,000 $0 $500,000 ns ru ,ion Contingency $465,000 $0 $465,000 One-Time Start Up Costs $0 $0 $0 Total Costs $22,500,000 $60,000 $22,560,000 ~J Section 5. In addition, the Orange County Board of Education plans to appropriate the following revenues to the project to cover construction costs, Through FY 2004-05 FY 2005-06 Through FY 2005-06 Sales Tax Refunds $300,000 $0 $300,000 NCDOT Grant $50,000 $0 $50,000 i Iona are o Electrical Service $0 $60,000 $60,000 o a oar o Education Fundin $350,000 $60,000 $410,000 Section 6. The cost to site and construct Gravelly Hill Middle School totals $23,078,091. Through FY Through FY 2004-05 FY 2005-06 2005-06 oun i e c o0 #3 Bond Funds $18,500,000 $0 $18,500,000 Bonds (to cover site development costs for West 10 Soccer Complex ca-located at the Middle School #3 site $237,525 $0 $237,525 Transfer from Coun Capital Fund $0 $60,000 $60,000 range oun riva e acemen Fundin $4,000,000 $0 $4,000,000 School Board Funds $350,000 $60,000 $410,000 o a oar o uca ion Fundin $23,087,525 $120,000 $23,207,525 Section 7. This ordinance supersedes all previous Orange County Schools Middle School #3 capital project ordinances. Section 8, This capital project ordinance, originally adapted March 4, 2005, shall remain in effect through December 31, 2007. Adopted this 9th day of November 2005.