Orange County NC Website
County Engineer Paul Thames said that the County Commissioners received maps in <br />their packets. He explained the maps. He said that the staff is asking that the Board approve <br />going ahead with the RFP process to hire a consulting engineer for the design of all of the water <br />and sewer expansion. He pointed out the sewer lines on a map. He said that they are asking <br />for authorization to hire a consulting engineer right now because they are under time constraints <br />with the new middle school and the selling of the sewer bands. There was never any funding <br />set aside to extend water to the school or to the EDD. Altogether, there is $1.2 million shortfall <br />in sewer funds. The staff proposes going ahead with designing the system. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if the project would be within the budget if the green and <br />yellow lines were deleted and Paul Thames said yes. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about not having enough money for the school and the <br />EDD. Paul Thames said that there is money for the middle school, but not far the water line. It <br />should be in the school's budget. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked several clarifying questions about the water for the middle <br />school. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that every school has an allocation for both water and <br />sewer. He said that he is in support of doing the engineering study for this area. He is ready to <br />get it going because it has gone on too long. <br />Commissioner Carey is also in support of moving ahead now, but he also wants to know <br />exactly how much it is going to cost the County. <br />John Link said that the staff is recommending approval of the five bullets on pages two <br />and three. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there should be another bullet that says that the project <br />will not cost Orange County additional funds; rather the County will proceed with a second level <br />of activity necessary to move forward.... {as stated in the paragraph under the five bullets}. She <br />thinks it is too open ended otherwise. She wants it to explicitly say that this will not be funded <br />unless Orange County gets the money. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they have not discussed this yet and they may decide that they <br />want to fund this out of Orange County general funds. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the main thing is getting the water and sewer to the <br />school and to the community that was committed to receive it. Beyond that, she does not want <br />to commit. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />approve the steps as follows to initiate the project as described and direct staff to proceed <br />accordingly, with the changes in the wording by Chair Jacobs on bullet #3. <br />- approve a scope of consultant design work that includes all of the identified water <br />and sewer development needs (as indicated graphically an the attached maps}; <br />and <br />direct staff to seek {through a formal Request for Proposals process) an <br />engineering consultant to develop all necessary documents needed to comply <br />with Grant requirements (Engineer's Report and Environmental Assessment), <br />and EDD utility master plan (internal) and project construction documents; and <br />approve a consultant's contract to be presented for approval at the Board of <br />County Commissioners' first meeting in August 2004; and <br />direct the consultant to complete design and permitting activities by late spring of <br />2005; and <br />