Agenda - 04-01-2008-5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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make decisions that are driven by the Public Hearing process until the Public Hearing as been held and the BOCC is able to adequately reflect on and take into account the public's input and other sources of information. The public hearing must be held prior to submitting the Engineer's Report (the first step in the formal state/federal project review/approval process) for review. Public Participation One public hearing, with a 2-week notification, is required. • A copy of the Engineering Report should be available for review by the public at least 2 weeks prior to the public hearing 2. An advertisement for the hearing shall be placed in a newspaper having local area circulation, and should include the following information: • Identify the time and location of the public hearing • Advise when and where a copy of the Preliminary Engineering Report can be reviewed • Provide a brief description of the proposed project • Advise how much funding is required and identify the source of funding 3. The information presented during the public hearing must: • Identify the problem • Discuss the selected alternative • Identify the amount of the anticipated loan or grant • Discuss any required inter-local agreements • Identify the effect this project will have on the monthly sewer bill for a typical residential user of 5000 gallons per month 4. Provide a summary of the hearing 5. Provide. an affidavit of publication of the hearing notice The required public hearing was advertised in the Mebane Enterprise and the Chapel Hill Herald on March 12, 2008 (see attached advertisement). The preliminary Engineering Report was submitted for BOCC review in February 2008 and was made available for public viewing the week before the public hearing advertisement at the County Library at Hillsborough, the County Engineer's office, the Clerk to the Board's office and at the offices of the Orange Alamance Water System. An element of project financing other that those outlined above comes into play with the ongoing Raftelis rate study contract. Raftelis has provided a preliminary rate setting model as of March 24, 2008. Ultimately, this model will allow the County to develop and evaluate new sewer rates for the Efland system using a number of variables including number of customers, sewer use per customer, system operating, treatment and capital expenses, ongoing General Fund contributions to the sewer enterprise fund, etc. The model will allow the County to incorporate system expenses (including the capital costs of system expansion) into a rate structure that serves County taxpayers and Efland sewer customers in the most equitable manner possible.