Agenda - 02-02-1999 - 9f - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Orange County Commissioners P. O. Box 8I8I 200 S Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Alice M. Gordon, Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis, Vice CChair Margaret W. Brawn Moses Carey, Jr. Barry Jacobs Mr. Daniel ~. VanderMeer, Chair Board of Di$ectors Orange Water and Sewer Authority PO Box 366 Carrboro, N~ 27510-0366 Dear Mr. V~nderMeer: February 2, 1999 ~~~ ~~. ~3~q ~ 6°~'r~'~ \\ ®~\ ~~4 This is in response to Joal Broun's letter of June 16, 1998, soliciting Board of County Commissioner comments on OWASA's discussion paper entitled "Assessment Policy Applicable tp Water and Sewer Service Extension to Existing Unserved Neighborhoods". The Board df County Commissioners appreciates the opportunity to provide input on OWASA policy initiatives, but it will not be providing any specific comments on the proposals contained within the utility extension and assessment issue paper. While Orange County does have a direct interest in and control of the operation and expansion of the Eflan~ sewer system and its assessment policies, the County's role and responsibilities related to other utility issues are limited. Insofar as any other municipal or municipa~-level utility provider in Orange County is concerned, the County's interest in utility extension policy is defined primarily by its regulatory responsibilities related to land use policy and watershed protection. The Board off County Commissioners is familiar with the issues outlined in your position paper and with the responses it elicited from the Town of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina. The Board encourages OWASA to: 1) classify high priority areas for sewer extension within the OWASA service area by working in concert with Orange County Health Department Environmental Health staff to identify systems within the service area 1that are either in outright failure or failing during periods of prolonged wet weather; an~ 2) reassess the elements of OWASA's purchase and sale agreement with the university. 'the Board believes that greater flexibility in assigning cost of service would be beneficial for the entire community. For instance, where an "Adverse Public Health Condition" is declared in an area that might jeopardize OWASA's water supply, if water and/or sewed services are to be extended, it is reasonable to share the costs of extension amongst all customers, as they certainly benefit from measures that protect the utility's water resources. You Count In Orange County AREA CODE (919) 732-8181: 968-4501: 688-7331: 227-2031: FAX (919) 644-3004 Ex~ 2130