Agenda - 04-12-2007-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~ ORANGE WATER AND SEWER AUTIiO,F:ITY ASSESSIviENT POLICY APPLICABLE TO WATER AND SEWER EJ~:TT;NSIONS TO EXISTING UNSERVF.,D NEIGHBORHOODS PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to set forth the principles and guidelines .for the extension of and the allocation of cost for the water and/or sewer mains of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) when such facilities are extended through the assessment process. BACKGROUND: An integral part of the operation of OWASA is the orderly extension of water and/or sewer service from its existing facilities or the construction of new facilities. This extension of service may consist of the construction of new coIlectors, interceptors, mains, Pump stations and other appurtenances necessary to serve a ~ group of properties whose owners have petitioned OWASA for service and have agreed to assume the cost of the water and/or sewer extension or to serve properties without a petition from property ~ owners that OWASA has determined are benefited by the extensions. The North Carolina Gener,~l Statutes and the Sale and Purchase Agreements with Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill enable OWASA to make such extensions and assess benefited properties the costs assoctiated with the extensions. POLICY: OWASA, at the discretion of the .Board of Directors, may arrange for the installation of water.and/or sewer mains to serve existing developed areas. and assess. the cost of the improvements to the benefited ,properties in accordance with the Nortli`~Cardlina Geiaeral Statutes. Extension to new development will not be financed through .the assessment process. Lf undeveloped land within an• asses-smeut. area benefits fivm an assessmeut.project'then sack larid_ wr71 'be assessed for the improvements. Undeveloped landthznugh~or along construction ofoff-site line extensions may also be assessed. Assessment projects must have prior approval of the OWASA Board of Directors and may be initiated by petition of residential property owners., County or State public health agencies, by.a County or .municipality, or by OWASA at its discretion. OWASA's decision to undertake an assessment projed shall not be subject to prior endorsement from a majority of the property owners benefiting from said project In determining whether or not to proceed with an assessment project, OWASA will consider the needs of all property owners who are impacted by such project Multiple assessment project requests will be prioritized for constniction by OWASA Extension of service shall be made in a manner to appropriately serve individual properties and to allow for the future orderly development of the water and/or sewer system to serve other properties. Water and/or sewer main. extensions and appurtenant facilities installed by OWASA through the assessment process shall be financed by the owners of the benefited properties through (1) special assessments made in accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina statutes and laws; (2) prior funding of the improvements; and/or (3) other financial arrangements satisfactory to OWASA The cost of the assessment project, as determined by OWASA; shall be specially assessed against each of the lots ar parcels deietmuied by OWASA as benefiting from the project and set out in a Feral Assessment Roll. Such allocation of cost shall be in accordance with the provisions of North