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What is the County's progress on the Water/Sewer Master Plan and/or to provide <br />water and sewer service to 2001 Plan areas of Efland that lie outside of the EDD? <br />Staff Response: The County issued an RFP for consultant services for the Efland Area <br />Sewer Master Plan earlier this year and responses from interested consultants were due <br />March 3. (The RFP materials can be viewed at: <br />http://www.co.oran eg nc.us/purchasing/documents/rfpeflandsewercomplete.pdf). <br />Interviews and consultant selection have not yet occurred as County management and <br />elected officials are working on addressing the budget shortfalls for the other sewer <br />projects in the area. The planned extensions of the existing Efland sewer system (County <br />operated system) and the North Buckhorn system (City of Mebane service) were heard in <br />a public hearing format on April 1, 2008 and May 1, 2008 (Agenda Abstracts are <br />available on the County's BOCC Agenda website for further information: <br />http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/agenmenu.asp). Budget shortfalls for these <br />projects are being discussed as part of the Budget process currently underway for the '08- <br />'09 fiscal year. Permitting for these projects continues at the State level. <br />3. * From the EMSAP, "Residents in the planning area have expressed concern over the <br />potential of their homes and land being annexed against their wishes by a municipal <br />government. In' past years, some residents have discussed the possibility of incorporating <br />the community of Efland to better ensure self-governance: in the future. Another possible <br />solution would be to establish a growth boundary agreement with the City of <br />Mebane. Such an agreement could ease resident's concerns about annexation and. <br />provide a more solid basis for all entities in the area regarding future planning." It is <br />recommended that the County charge a task force (to establish Efland's incorporation): to <br />determine which, if any, areas of the planning area would be eligible for incorporation <br />under revised State laws regulating new incorporations; to complete a survey of residents <br />of any eligible areas to determine their stance on incorporation; and to explore the <br />feasibility of any other avenues that maybe taken to ensure the preferences of the area <br />residents are addressed. <br />What is the County's progress toward establishing this task force or creating a <br />growth boundary agreement with Mebane? <br />Staff Response: This is related to the interlocal agreement issue addressed above (please <br />see response to first question above). It should be noted that in recent years the General <br />Assembly has viewed unfavorably incorporation attempts made primarily to avoid <br />annexation by an existing municipality. It should also be noted that there is currently a <br />proposed bill before State legislators to impose a moratorium on involuntary aiulexations <br />until June 30, 2009. (Judith Wegner is serving on the State Committee addressing this <br />issue). Additionally, the plan states that agreements with the -City of Mebane are the <br />preferred method of addressing citizen concerns regarding possible annexation and <br />should be undertaken as the first priority. <br />2 <br />