Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Halkiotis feels that there is some real danger in this. He was involved with the siting <br />of two schools for the Orange County School District. He noted that one criterion is to site schools where <br />there are existing water and sewer lines. There are people who want to put more development in rural <br />buffers. The wording "serve another "essential public facility" could be misinterpreted. <br />Chair Carey said that the term "essential public facility" is defined to make sure no private use of the <br />line can be made, but if the line is there it should be able to be used for an essential public facility. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she feels very strongly about not putting in lines larger than <br />necessary to remedy the situation for the essential public facility. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that the theory behind this is that schools will be sited where water and sewer <br />is available. Also, there may be existing public facilities that may need help because of failing systems. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the concern is that this would be an intentional housing generator. <br />He would be comfortable leaving it that the professionals would size the line. If in the future, the governing <br />board decides to change this section, they could. <br />Chair Carey said that he hears a consensus that the Board agrees with what was stated by <br />Commissioner Gordon above regarding sizing of lines and controlling access to lines. Therefore the Board <br />approved that wording by consensus, with Chair Carey expressing some reservations. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there were two aspects to Emergency Water Transfers. The first <br />aspect is to add a sentence saying, "This section shall not apply to any system operated by the municipality.' <br />Chair Carey said that the Board decided that this would be a deal breaker so it was decided to <br />eliminate all the municipalities. The second aspect is to increase the number of days in the review and <br />approval process to reflect some time frames that would be more acceptable to OWASA. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the original language put forth by the committee as shown on the <br />line that is not annotated at all. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the original language was agreed to by consensus and then it was <br />brought up again. <br />Commissioner Gordon referred to the mutual aid compact signed by 29 jurisdictions. On page 29 <br />under Water Supply Emergencies, it says that, "short term emergency shall mean a period of not more than <br />seven days." Also, under Activating an Emergency Transfer, it says that, "it would be activated by the chief <br />administrative officers of the entities involved. They shall immediately notify their respective governing <br />boards that such an emergency exists. Any emergency transfer lasting longer than seven days shall require <br />approval by the governing boards of all parties to the transfer." <br />Commissioner Gordon said that what the Water and Sewer Boundary Agreement says is that 3a <br />days is when the managers of the jurisdictions are to be notified. At 6~ days, the governing board is notified. <br />At 9~ days, the elected board has to approve. She said that the disagreement has to do with when people <br />should be notified that the water is being drawn and at what level and in what time frame. She feels that the <br />staff should be notified at 30 days, the governing board should be notified at 60 days, and it should be <br />approved at 90 days by the governing board. <br />Commissioner Brown agrees with the timeline of 3a-6a-9a days for notification. <br />She made reference to the agreement and said that maybe Triangle J should be contacted to inform them <br />that this is not being followed. <br />Chair Carey said that he feels that OWASA would not object to the 30-day notification. <br />Commissioner Brown feels that this is a big compromise and the notification time is too long. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that the Emergency Agreement serves a different purpose than the Mutual Aid <br />Compact. He said that the Mutual Aid Compact is designed to bring a number of local governments on <br />board to help out if there is an emergency and to set a price during the short term periods of emergencies. <br />He said that they both operate during emergencies but that is the end of their similarities. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to adopt the <br />Emergency Water Transfer section as written. <br />VOTE: AYES, 3; NOES 2 {Commissioners Carey and Jacobs) <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to adopt the <br />Emergency Water Transfer section with the exclusion of the Municipalities. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Gordon pointed out page 11 where it says, "Chapel Hill or Carrboro." The Board <br />agreed to leave the language as, "Chapel Hill or Carrboro." <br />