Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to Paul Thames' comment about <br />capacity for teachers and administrators moving into the school. He asked for <br />something in writing about this. <br />John Link said that they need to formally inform the school board and he has <br />been keeping Superintendent Shirley Carraway apprised. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that they have not really focused on the water part of <br />the school project. She asked Paul Thames about this. Paul Thames said that the <br />water part of the project comes from the southeast corner of map #6, at the Petro Mart, <br />down to the intersection of Buckhorn Road and West Ten Road, down to the school. It <br />is laid in the same trench with the sewer line so that the two lines will be installed <br />simultaneously. The line work can be put in place in approximately 60 days, so they can <br />get water to the school in half the time that they can get sewer to the school. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that no one on the OCS Board has a clue about <br />what has been involved in this project from the beginning. He said that this has been <br />one huge headache to get electricity, water, and sewer to this area. He said that he <br />hopes that someone has learned something from this and that there is a game plan for <br />the process the next time. This is not the first time that a school may not be opening an <br />time. Pathways Elementary did not open until after Christmas. <br />Chair Jacobs asked Dr. George McFarley about the budget for the hookup fee <br />and he said that Mebane had talked about waiving this fee and that OCS had not <br />budgeted anything. <br />Paul Thames said that the conversation he had with Mebane today was that they <br />were waiving the hookup fee. <br />Chair Jacobs asked if staff could look back and see if at any point anyone said <br />what this would cost, because he cannot believe that they would have budgeted a <br />project without anticipating some charge to hook into the system. He suggested getting <br />same cost figures from neighboring systems, such as OWASA. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that there was no figure on this when he was still <br />employed by OCS because the discussion all along had been that the lift station would <br />be handling both the school and whatever was coming from the soccer complex. When <br />Cedar Ridge was built, the Town of Hillsborough charged $280,000 for a hookup to <br />water and sewer. He said that there needs to be upfront data and upfront agreement <br />with the hookup fee. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if it is in writing that Mebane would waive the fee. . <br />Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners are anticipating answers to a <br />series of questions and an agenda item on February 21St that includes the answers to <br />those questions in writing as well as the repeat of the information about the options to <br />pay for it. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that they need to ask for full disclosure from Mebane, <br />the state agency, and the federal agency. <br />John Link said that they would inform Chair Jacobs on Tuesday morning what <br />has been accomplished. He said that this would not be an item that the Board could <br />expect to receive prior to the meeting. <br />Paul Thames said that it may be difficult to get an answer from the state as to <br />whether they are going to sign off on Mebane's proposal about reworking the pump <br />station and lines. <br />3. Water and Sewer Assessment Process <br />Paul Thames said that the Chair and Vice-Chair have suggested that there may <br />need to be a way of generating revenue with grant funds, etc. to offset some of the costs <br />of the projects in the Efland area. One of the ways to deal with this is an assessment <br />