Minutes - 20070920 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Carey said that OWASA will be formally asking each jurisdiction to act on this matter at a later time. Mayor Chilton said that this is a proposed new development of 57 homes. However, compared to a neighborhood in Orange County that was already populated that had been developed many years ago and where existing septic systems failed, it is considerably different. Mac Clarke said that there is a similarity in that, in both cases, there is no legal obligation on either party to facilitate the operations of the other. Durham could have refused to help OWASA, but agreed to help. This is what Durham is asking OWASA to do in this request. Jacquelyn Gist asked if these would be large homes on large lots and it was answered that there would be large homes. She said that she is concerned with the large amount of water used for green lawns and the stuff that is put on the lawns to keep them green, which would be entering into Orange County's wastewater system. She would propose that maybe OWASA could come up with a deal that it would be landscaped in such a way that water would not be wasted, using xeri-scaping or somehow recycling gray water. Mac Clarke said that OWASA has no control over the nature of this development and how it might be landscaped. He said that this would not affect the question of water going into the sewer system. OWASA will be charging on the same basis that it would charge any OWASA customer, which is that the charge will be related to the total volume of water used each month by each particular resident with the appropriate sewer rate fee charged on that volume. Commissioner Gordon asked if this system would be configured so that other people could tap an if they were allowed. Mac Clarke said that an agreement could be drawn up to ensure that, so far as the 57 homes are concerned, they will be the only ones that will connect to OWASA. Commissioner Gordon said that if the line is configured so that someone else can tap on, someone might be able to sue and force OWASA to allow it. Donald F. Greeley, a representative from Durham, said that this development is literally a small pocket of land on the top of the hill. Mayor Chilton asked if there were policies in place or an agreement with the City of Durham that would prevent the City of Durham from entering into Orange County with its sewer service without this being approved by the County Commissioners. Donald F. Greeley said that there is a service area agreement with OWASA that extends from Cornwallis Road in the north to the Durham County line in the south. Mayor Chilton said that the financial savings should not accrue to the developer because he bought this property understanding this situation. If the developer did not buy this property understanding this situation, that is his problem or his fault. He said that it seems that the money that is being saved on the pump station ought to accrue to the benefit of OWASA ar its customers. Mac Clarke said that each of these 57 dwellings will pay an accessibility fee to OWASA based on the scale of fees that is charged for anyone in the system. Mayor Chilton said that if in the end the developer is going to make more money because OWASA agrees to this change, he feels like OWASA ought to have a conversation with the developer about recouping some of the savings. Cam Hill said that if all OWASA is about is selling services and making money, then this makes sense, but some of the land use planning in that area is not good. This does not appeal to him. Randee Haven-O'Donnell said that she sees this as the beginning of more requests to come. Review of Revenue Options Available to County to Replace Sales Tax and Other County Revenues to be Taken by the State (including Lost and New Revenue Sources and Amounts and Options Available to Orange County by Referendum)