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2 <br /> In addition to agreements necessitated by the grant funding <br /> process, another agreement allowing the extension of sewer <br /> service into the Rural Buffer had to be developed. The <br /> final goal of this series of agreements has been to <br /> a) ensure that the proposed sewer system does not serve to <br /> stimulate growth within the Rural Buffer; b) address grant <br /> funding requirements related to near-term system ownership; <br /> c) provide an administrative mechanism to oversee system <br /> construction and operation; and d) ensure the availability <br /> of funds - independent of and prior to grant reimbursement <br /> of expenditures - for administrative, design and <br /> construction costs; and e) provide for ultimate ownership <br /> and responsibility for the treatment system. <br /> The first of these agreements is entitled "Agreement <br /> Approving Extension of and Restrictions Regarding <br /> Connections to a Public Sewer Line to be Constructed to <br /> Provide Public Sewer Collection Service Solely to Piney <br /> Mountain Subdivision" (see attachment "A" ) . The purpose of <br /> this agreement is to bind all parties to terms which limit <br /> the use of the Piney Mountain waste treatment system to the <br /> existing residences and permitted building sites within the <br /> Piney Mountain subdivision. The agreement is intended to <br /> provide reassurance to all parties to the Orange County - <br /> Chapel Hill - Carrboro Joint Planning Agreement that the <br /> sole purpose of the Piney Mountain utility extension is to <br /> address a public health situation in accordance with the <br /> planning agreements and the County' s Water and Sewer <br /> Policy. <br /> The second agreement, between Orange County and OWASA, is <br /> entitled "Agreement for Providing Administrative and <br /> Technical Services and Assistance to Orange County by <br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority for the Design, <br /> Permitting, Construction, Administration, Operation and <br /> Maintenance of the Piney Mountain Subdivision Wastewater <br /> System" (see attachment "B" ) . Its purpose is to satisfy <br /> requirements related to system ownership and operation in <br /> DEM' s High Unit Cost grant. DEM has indicated that the <br /> County is the only agency within Orange County that is <br /> eligible for grant funding for the Piney Mountain project. <br /> Orange County must own the proposed sewer system for <br /> development costs to be eligible for the grant. However, <br /> it was never the County' s intention to be the owner and <br /> operator of this particular sewer system, as it does not <br /> have staff resources necessary to fulfill this role. The <br /> County must contract with OWASA, by means of an interlocal <br /> agreement, to provide the resources necessary to perform <br /> all activities related to developing and operating the <br /> proposed wastewater system. A plan whereby OWASA will <br /> provide all necessary operational and administrative <br /> services has been incorporated into the agreement. This <br /> agreement, or a BOCC-approved draft thereof, must be <br /> submitted to DEM, as a part of the grant application, on <br />