Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Gordan said that she is interested in the reasons behind this. She asked <br />if it was generally because of good intergovernmental cooperation, or because the County has <br />different restrictions. Paul Thames said that half of Hillsborough's water customers are outside <br />of town. There is a difference of opinion legally between the Town's Attorney and the County's <br />Attorney as to whose ordinance should be applicable to TownJCounty customers. It is the <br />County Commissioners' choice as to whether they revise the ordinance to track with <br />Hillsborough's ordinance. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he has a concern about an ordinance that does not address <br />drought conditions. He recalls a meeting almost two years ago where there was agreement that <br />the staffs would work on reanalyzing the relationship between Lake Orange and the new <br />reservoir. It does not look like this has happened. He would like to address the interrelationship <br />between the new reservoir and Lake Orange. He would like to communicate with Hillsborough <br />that the County Commissioners want to have this discussion. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />John Tolar said that he was concerned about the water an the spillway and what could <br />be done about this. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they have only been asked to make comments an Hillsborough's <br />proposed modification of the ordinance <br />Commissioner Carey asked how many days are remaining once the water stops running <br />at the spillway at Lake Orange and Paul Thames said around 250 days. <br />Commissioner Brown asked what happens if there is a drought and where would <br />Hillsborough go if they ran out of water. Paul Thames said that they could try and get water <br />from Durham or OVIlASA. There is even a possibility of getting water from Orange-Alamance. <br />Commissioner Brown said that the draught two years ago depleted all the water from <br />these sources also. Paul Thames said that there was excess water supply in the <br />MebaneJGrahamJBurlington area during that time. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she sees that the water in this area is not sustainable for <br />the growth that has occurred over the last eight years. She said that the growth has to start <br />slowing down. She said that the more you conserve water in non-drought seasons, the less <br />room you have to conserve it when there is a drought. This is a tough discussion. <br />Hillsborough Mayor Jae Phelps said that the intent of this is to get feedback from the <br />Board of County Commissioners and the Hillsborough Town Board will adopt this new <br />ordinance unanimously. He said that his understanding about the agreement between the two <br />staffs two years ago was that it was for that temporary basis only during the drought. He said <br />that the reason Hillsborough is so adamant about trying to do something is that they do have a <br />good supply in the reservoir. He said that they are using less water than they did years ago. <br />This puts them in a financial bind. It will be hard to tell people that there is a lot of water, but <br />that they need to stop using it. The water rates are very dependent on the usage. <br />Chair Jacobs suggested that the County Commissioners essentially give their <br />acceptance and ask staffs to meet an August 15t" and evaluate whether there is a drought or <br />not. Also, the staffs can start looking at the relationship between the reservoirs. <br />Commissioner Brown said that this whole question should always be open for <br />discussion. <br />Mayor Phelps said that the Town Board is not closed to discussing this, but they did not want to <br />go into restrictions this early in the year. He thinks that mast of the Town Board members are <br />going to vote for this. He is not opposed to continuing discussions. <br />d. Northern Human Services Center Wastewater Treatment System Alternatives <br />