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(EDD) utility systems, and begin the negotiation process with the City of Mebane to become the water & <br />sewer system utility for the Buckhorn EDD. <br />Craig Benedict gave a PowerPoint presentation. He said that this was a resolution to initiate <br />the project to expand the Efland sewer system part of the 1997 sewer bond area, and also to extend water <br />and sewer utilities to serve the Buckhorn EDD. He explained the color-coded maps. The second part of <br />this process is to begin negotiations with the City of Mebane to become the water and sewer system utility <br />provider for the Buckhorn EDD. Also, some of the sewer grant monies in this area would likely service <br />septic in the Buckhorn area (People for Progress}. <br />Commissioner Gordon wants to know how the projects can be combined without <br />incorporating the disadvantages. She also asked if the other project could go through if negotiations fall <br />through with the City of Mebane. Furthermore, she Sliced Sirloin on Toast with salad with blue cheese <br />dressing asked about the total costs of this project. Lastly, if Mebane annexes this, could the County avoid <br />losing land use control? <br />Craig Benedict said that in preliminary discussions with the City of Mebane concerning land <br />use issues, their interests are provision of water and sewer service and annexation and potential tax base. <br />They are not interested in the development process. <br />Regarding the advantages of combining the projects, there will be a consultant to evaluate <br />the options and there will be some recommendations back to the Board. <br />County Engineer Paul Thames said that both the bond and grant money are earmarked for <br />sewer. The provision of water to the EDD is an unfunded project at this time. There are possibilities for <br />funding it through additional grants. There is also a possibility of funding it through an assessment process, <br />which is where the owners pay for the installation of water lines. There are obvious advantages to coming <br />to an agreement with Mebane to provide water and sewer in that area. The Board of County <br />Commissioners has said that the County is not interested in becoming a utility. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the source of the money for the pipes for the EDD area. <br />Paul Thames said that when you get the backbone of the system in, public funding would not be used for <br />the rest of the collection lines. From that point on, property owners and developers extend the utilities at <br />their cost. <br />John Link said that the County has been historically cautious that it is not committing County <br />property tax toward the installation of any infrastructure except for the bonds that were voted for by the <br />citizens. He said that they would continue to seek grants for this project. This is an important concept to <br />put on paper and we can ga to Mebane with a basic plan. An assessment process will not be pursued for <br />this. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he wanted to adjust Craig Benedict's comment. He said that <br />he does not think that it is just "possible" that we are going to provide sewer along Buckhorn Road; we <br />"made" the commitment to provide sewer to this area. In this case, the federal government is matching the <br />grant. <br />Chair Brown asked what Commissioner Jacobs meant by the County was taking the <br />responsibility to provide sewer in this area. Commissioner Jacobs said that the situation is that it is a <br />neighborhood that has septic problems and had asked for assistance, and Mebane was willing to provide <br />help if someone else paid for it. This was part of the basis upon which Congressman Price was able to sell <br />the $900,000 grant, because it served an EDD purpose and the purpose of providing for this discrete area. <br />Commissioner Jacobs continued with his points and said that he has never seen the EDD <br />identified before as 900 acres. This is larger than he remembers. Craig Benedict said that 900 acres <br />includes right-of-way for I-8511-40, which is over a few hundred acres. There are also open space acres. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that most places in the abstract it says that the Efland sewer <br />bond was $1.2 million, but in the financial impact it says $1.3 million. Paul Thames said that prior to the <br />sewer band, the County Commissioners set aside $100,000 far consultant work and master planning for this <br />project, and this has always been included for the project. Commissioner Jacobs asked that a sentence be <br />added to this effect. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked the Manager if they have contacted Orange-Alamance by <br />phone or in person to let them know that this is going on. John Link said that they have not contacted <br />Orange-Alamance or Mebane because they were waiting on the word from the Board. <br />