Minutes 02-02-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• 1997 County issued a bond of $1.2 million to expand sewer service in Efland. • 1998-2002 Discussions in memos from the County Engineer focus on steps required to use the bond money for expanding service in Efland and defining the scope of the project so a consultant could be hired to begin engineering design work. • 2002-2003 Scope was expanded to include the Buckhorn Economic Development District and North Buckhorn community, in addition to the Central Efland expansion. By this time, the costs to construct the system expansion in Central Efland were far above the original estimates prepared in 1996 by the County Engineer. Federal grants were sought and earmarked in the form of EPA Special Appropriations Grants (SPAP). (2003 and 2005). • 2004 Engineering consultant, Coulter, Jewell, Thames, hired to design the Buckhorn and Central Efland sewer expansion projects and Gravelly Hill water and sewer. • 2005-2006 Gravelly Hill is separated from North Buckhorn and Central Efland projects. When it became clear that regulatory hurdles due to the EPA SPAP grant would delay water/sewer service provision to the new Gravelly Hill Middle School, the portion of the project related to the school was separated from the larger project. • 2007-2008 Rate study commissioned. Raftelis Financial Consultants concludes that revenues from customer's monthly rates only cover 20-25% of system costs. Staff develops and BOCC approves a four-year rate increase plan to increase revenues and make the system self-funding. • May 2008 Environmental Assessment and Engineering Report for North Buckhorn/Central Efland project is submitted to the State's Construction Grants and Loans division for review. • July 2009 Rates raised first time in 20 years. This was the first of four increases over the next four years. • Sept 2009 Craig Benedict, Planning Director, and Kevin Lindley, Staff Engineer, attend EPA workshop on applying for and administering the EPA SPAP grants. • Dec 2009 State Construction Grants and Loans division approves the Engineering Report and recommends a Categorical Exclusion (i.e., environmental clearance) to the EPA Regional office in Atlanta.