Orange County NC Website
consultant for the Rural Character Study, was very <br /> much in favor of alternative systems. Also, one of <br /> the functions of the County Engineer is to establish <br /> an inspection and monitoring program for alternative <br /> systems. <br /> Goal 4 is a combination of the previous 4 & 5 which <br /> were County involvement and financial participation. <br /> Repetitions and contradictions have been removed. <br /> Number 3 under General Policies in the previous <br /> draft stated that Orange County "shall hold title to <br /> any water and sewer facilities. . . " By the County <br /> holding title, it would be in control of tap-ons. <br /> The reason for changing to "may hold title" is that <br /> there may be certain situations where the County <br /> does not wish to hold title to a particular line. <br /> The utility provider may say that they would allow <br /> connection to their system but only if they hold <br /> title to the lines. The County may say it wants to <br /> hold title but the utility provider may say <br /> absolutely not. The County would then be in a <br /> dilemma of trying to correct a public health <br /> emergency and having to give the utility provided <br /> right to hold title in order to correct the <br /> emergency. Collins continued that some providers <br /> were adamant about holding title and that is not <br /> • always possible. In the case of the Efland Sewer <br /> Project, Farmers Home said that the County had to <br /> own title until the loan was repaid. That was a <br /> situation where the County could not give title to <br /> the provider. The phrase "may hold" provides <br /> flexibility and the statement has been added "may <br /> attach conditions limiting the use of the extension <br /> consistent with the Land Use Element of the <br /> Comprehensive Plan" . In essence, we are trying to <br /> say if we give up the title then we are in the <br /> position of being able to negotiate from the <br /> financial standpoint conditions which may limit the <br /> use of that line. <br /> Jacobs asked "When would we ever not want the <br /> extension to be consistent with the Land Use Element <br /> of the Land Use Plan?" Collins responded that the <br /> only thing that comes to mind is a public health <br /> emergency. If you have a subdivision where the only <br /> recourse is to extend public sewer, and by extending <br /> that sewer you are doing something that is not <br /> consistent with the Land Use Plan, then you still <br /> have to take care of the public health emergency. <br /> Jacobs continued "I think the first sentence sounds <br /> a little bit like, not that there is a problem with <br /> this, like a response to the problems that some of <br /> the municipalities had with the water/sewer policy, <br />