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6 <br /> tap request. It is much less likely that County staff will be able to create another exception to the <br /> County's force main no-tap policy for Boone mobile home park that can be similarly limited. Allowing <br /> the Boone mobile home park tap and failing to limit other taps could undermine the eventual <br /> development of the planned and more suitable gravity sewer collector system. Other policy implications <br /> include those which were outlined in reports to the BOCC in preparation for the BOCC's discussions <br /> about the Lloyd force main tap request: 1) County planning and utility service/service area policy <br /> generally recognize that sewer force mains are and should be used to extend essential sewer service to <br /> satellite municipal service areas while precluding demands to provide sewer service along the route of the <br /> force main; 2)there is the potential that allowing taps to be made to the Efland force main could <br /> conceivably be viewed or used as a precedent setting decision for allowing service taps on other existing <br /> sewer force mains within areas of Orange County judged undesirable or unsuitable for provision of sewer <br /> service. The force mains serving the New Hope Elementary School, Piney Mountain and Rangewood are <br /> examples of existing force mains located in areas where sewer service is judged to be generally undesirable <br /> but where the extension of spot or satellite service was deemed to be essential to provide for the public <br /> welfare; and 3)there is the potential that allowing service taps to County-controlled force mains will reduce <br /> or destroy the public officials' confidence in the use of force mains as a"risk-free" or even as an acceptable <br /> (in terms of avoiding the stimulation of undesired growth)tool for extending essential services. <br /> There are additional policy implications other than those concerned with utility and planning issues. As a <br /> mobile home park, Boone's provides an opportunity for affordable housing within the County. Affordable <br /> housing is one of the BOCC's stated priorities. This priority must be weighed against at least a tacit <br /> agreement between the County and Hancor: that the pumping and force main would be built by Hancor <br /> (albeit with County economic development financial assistance)for Hancor's use alone. Hancor's <br /> management has stated the company's opposition to any taps of the Hancor force main. Hancor's <br /> management and engineering staff recognize that the taps are a potential threat to the integrity and utility <br /> of the force main and thus a threat to its operations. They realize that Hancor's manufacturing operations <br /> could essentially be shut down by any major malfunction of the its wastewater pumping and force main <br /> system. <br /> From either a policy or a technical standpoint, provision of sewer service by tapping a force main is not a <br /> desirable option for the owner of Boone mobile home park, for Hancor or for Orange County. If Boone <br /> mobile home park is to receive municipal type sewer service, however, the force main tap is the only short <br /> term solution. It is possible that this area could ultimately see the extension of gravity sewer service in <br /> conjunction with the development of the Buckhom Road EDD. It is also possible, but not very likely, <br /> that the area could be provided sewer service from Mebane. The timing of provision of sewer service from <br /> the EDD or Mebane is uncertain at best. <br /> If I may provide additional information, please advise. <br />