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Ed Kerwin said that a key theme was conservation and management and this will remain a <br /> key element in OWASA's plans. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that there was discussion at the school collaboration meeting that both <br /> school districts are looking at xeriscaping and reexamining the policy on watering lawns at <br /> schools. <br /> Bill Strom said that he wants to hear from Mark Marcoplos. He said that OWASA's plans <br /> are in response to Chapel Hill's land use plans. He said that if they want to take these steps to <br /> close that period of time where they are vulnerable to having a water shortage, etc., then they <br /> need to look at their land use plans, growth patterns, and ordinances and see how to adjust <br /> them in a sustainable way. <br /> Joal Hall Broun suggested that if boards want to participate, then each should go back and <br /> discuss this issue as to what they would or would not agree to and then determine whether or <br /> not they would like to come back and discuss it as a group. She does not have an opposition <br /> for staff to continue to talk about this, but she does not think that the issue of the positions of all <br /> five jurisdictions will be solved in this discussion. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that there seems to be general agreement that no one is proposing <br /> changing any policies within Orange County governments in relation to how supply is used. <br /> What has been raised is looking at use. He made reference to Resolution 9532 in the packet <br /> that proposes the idea that there continue to be work on some kind of intake on the west side, <br /> and whether or not OWASA is a party to the discussion. <br /> George Lucier said that the water conservation issue is essential, but in Chatham County <br /> there is an immediate issue of water use. Chatham County has to put out $15 million to <br /> upgrade the plant to use the current allocation out of Jordan Lake and then up to another$15 <br /> million to upgrade the distribution lines so that it can deliver the water. This will increase <br /> Chatham's water supply by about 2 % fold. This decision has to be made this summer and <br /> cannot be made any later than this. <br /> Mayor Bell said that he understands Mark Chilton's concerns. He said that Durham has <br /> no interest in using Jordan Lake except on an extreme emergency basis. He said that each <br /> entity needs to start planning, and the proposed resolution addresses this. He said that he <br /> would hope that the boards would agree to allow the discussions to continue. <br /> Randy Kabrick, Chair of OWASA Board, said that the board approved unanimously to <br /> cooperate with Chatham and Durham to look at a regional intake from Jordan Lake strictly as <br /> part of the water planning. There is no intention by the board to take allocations as part of a <br /> base load. He said that this is a long-term process. He encouraged all participants to support <br /> long-range planning, even if it involves a portion of Jordan Lake for emergency purposes. <br /> Mark Marcoplos said that he was on the OWASA board from 1999 to 2006 and went <br /> through the first drought and helped to craft the new conservation measures. He said that, after <br /> the drought of 2001-2002, he looked around astounded that OWASA was the only utility that <br /> was treating this as a very serious, highly changing event. As soon as possible after the <br /> drought, OWASA instituted year-round conservation and no other jurisdiction did this and it also <br /> began the discussions that led to tiered rates to encourage conservation. He said that the <br /> entities need to get the conservation and sustainability issues out there. He firmly believes that <br /> OWASA has the know-how to get through to when the quarry is available in 2030 with <br /> conservation, efficiency, use of storm water, sealing leaks in the system, etc. He does not think <br /> that Jordan Lake will be needed from OWASA's standpoint. <br /> Mark Kleinschmidt said that it is not in the AOG's interest to not participate in these <br /> discussions. He said that he would like to see them at the table discussing what efforts are <br /> being made in the neighboring counties and cities for water conservation and efforts. He would <br /> like to hear more about the water reuse plans and other plans. <br /> Bill Strom said that all understand that this conversation is going to take awhile to sift <br /> through and the Chapel Hill Town Council needs the opportunity to put its thoughts in a <br />