Agenda - 02-16-2006-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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There are two potential strategies that may be utilized -with the Board's approval - to overcome the delays outlined above: • While there is no way to recover the two or more months lost in the CLGS staff review process, the County could choose to take the step of withdrawing the portion of the project associated with school utilities from grant consideration, Such withdrawal would eliminate the need for federal review and allow the project to be bid much more quickly than the grant process allows. This strategy does require that the BOGC reconfigure or defer some of the County's funding priorities, a process that will be more fully described during the BOCC's February 16`h worksession. Should the BOCC elect to pursue this strategy, a project timeline as shown in the timeline attachment chart may be achieved. This, of course, assumes that a timely resolution or CLGS accommodation on the issue of Mebane's infrastructure can be achieved, To date, CLGS engineering review staff continues to insist that all issues with Mebane's infrastructure be resolved prior to allowing wastewater from the EDD/middle school portion of the Buckhorn project to be conveyed to Mebane. However, NC DENR regulatory requirements do provide for processes that allow time delays for necessary infrastructure improvements. For example, a "Special Order of Consent " or SOC is an agreement between DENR and a utility provider having actual infrastructure/operational violations that allows the necessary infrastructure improvements to come about over a specified time period . County staff will continue to work with Mebane officials and CGLS staff to refine the scope of required improvements to Mebane's infrastnucture, County officials and staff will also continue working with Mebane officials and staff to induce CLGS staff or other DWQ regulatory officials to accept areasonable - in terms of time - strategy to make the necessary improvements to Mebane's infrastructure. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Potential financial impacts are addressed in the attached memo from the Budget Director. The Board is asked to consider how it may wish to reallocate funds to accomplish the additional infrastructure improvements outlined in the County Engineer's memo. One option would be to draw perhaps 20% of the needed funding from the "menu" of currently funded projects noted in the Budget Director's memo, with the balance coming from a reallocation of planned debt far conservation easements to the water and sewer infrastructure project. Of course, there are many other combinations of funding reallocations which the Board can consider during this Febnaary 16 work session. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: • remove the portion of the Buckhorn EDD/Community utility project that will serve the Gravelly Hill middle school from the STAG grant process; and • designate the appropriate funding sources/strategies; and • direct staff to move forward with this portion of the project accordingly.