Agenda - 12-15-2009 - 4k - Laserfiche WebLink

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32 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE Recreational programs throughout the County are provided by the County's Parks and Recreation Department along with the parks and recreation departments of the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Organized leisure programs ranging from athletics to fine arts are regularly offered to citizens of all ages at several park sites and community centers. Numerous programs and special events for senior citizens and the mentally and physically impaired are also offered. During the past several years the County developed aggressive plans for park development and open space acquisi- tion. PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES Water and Sewer Services--Water and sewer services are provided to the majority of the popu- lation of the County by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (the "Authority"). The Authority was created in 1975 by the Board of Commissioners for the County and the boards of aldermen of the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro for the purpose of acquiring, consolidating, improving, and oper- ating the existing water and sewer systems in the southern portion of the County. Prior to the for- mation of the Authority, water service was provided by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro and sewer service was provided by the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro in conjunction with the University. The Authority began utilities operations in 1977 when the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conveyed their water and sewer facilities to the Authority. Under the terms of the transfer, the Authority provides and maintains sewage collection and treatment facilities and water supply, treatment and distribution facilities. The Town of Hillsborough and the City of Mebane, which is partly located within the corporate limits of the County, also own and operate water and sanitary sewer systems. The County issued water and sanitary sewer bonds in the late 1960s to finance the construction of the Lake Orange re- servoir, which serves the water system of the Town of Hillsborough, and the construction of im- provements which serve the water and sanitary sewer systems of the City of Mebane. In addition, the Orange Alamance Water System, a private corporation, utilizes Lake Orange and provides water service to a part of the west central portion of the County. The County's water supply has been supplemented by the addition of the Cane Creek Reser- voir, which was built by the Authority in 1989. Increased water supply has also resulted from the renovations to the dam at Lake Orange, which is owned by the County. Sanitary Landfill -The County owns and operates a sanitary landfill serving County resi- dents. The landfill was owned jointly by the County and the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Ownership and operation of the landfill became the County's sole responsibility in May 2000. The operation of the landfill is self-supporting from landfill charges and is expected to be usable through the year 2010. The County has been able to extend the expected life of its existing landfill by several years through aggressive recycling efforts in the County. In fact, the County lead the State in 2003 in its waste reduction efforts. These efforts have led to an actual decline over the past several years in the annual amount of solid waste being delivered to the landfill. In the 2004-2005 fiscal year the County implemented a waste reduction recycling fee to offset the costs of the recycling program which has been subsidized over the years by the tipping fees. The new fee will generate $3.56 million to offset the cost of recycling operations in 2008-2009. The County has begun to consider its options for further solid waste disposal. OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES Telephone service in the County is provided by Sprint, BellSouth, Mebtel and Verizon Commu- nication. Electric service is provided by Duke Power Company, Piedmont Electric Membership Cor- poration and Progress Energy. Gas service is provided by Public Service Gas Company. OTHER SERVICES 13