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INFORMATION ITEM <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County Elected Officials <br />FROM: Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County Managers <br />SUBJECT: Collaborative Approach to Rogers Road <br />DATE: February 25, 2013 <br />PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this memorandum is to describe the collaborative approach the Managers of <br />Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County are pursuing to ensure an inclusive process for <br />determining how best to address the identified needs of the Rogers Road area, particularly those <br />related to the extension of water and sewer service and the potential creation of a utilities service <br />district. <br />BACKGROUND <br />As stated in a memo to the Orange County BOCC dated January 24, 2013: <br />"Sewer service to the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood, as defined by the previously <br />approved public water connections in the area, has proven to be an expensive and <br />complicated issue to resolve. The creation of a County Sewer District for all property <br />owners in the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood that are not currently served by a <br />municipal sewer system is being investigated. Participation by the Towns in a Sewer <br />District located outside of the Towns jurisdictions presents legal challenges for both the <br />Town of Chapel Hill and Town of Carrboro. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority <br />(OWASA) could be the service provider for the creation of a County Sewer District. <br />Contract terms and policy standards for governmental projects would have to be <br />discussed before a Sewer District could be established." <br />To that end, the Managers of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County have held meetings with <br />their key staffs and each other to discuss these issues and address them collaboratively. The <br />Managers have also met with leaders from other local organizations to develop strategic <br />partnerships as we move forward in the decision making process. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Planning staff from the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro met several times in late 2012 and <br />early 2013 to share information on the area in order to gain a better understanding of the <br />potential for development of the jointly -owned public land in the area, including options for <br />water and sewer extensions. The Planning staffs then met with the Managers to present their <br />findings and discuss some options for moving forward, including creation of a utilities service <br />district. <br />