Agenda - 02-15-2005-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 This fee calculation process was based on findings that larger water meters and larger homes represented greater water use and wastewater generation than that of smaller meters and homes and thus represented a correspondingly greater portion of the demand on and capacity of the infrastructure, During approximately the same period, OWASA found that there was a relatively low demand for reimbursements under its then current reimbursement policy, As the primary tool for generating reimbursement funds was eliminated with the adoption of the meter and home size based fee policy, OWASA also eliminated its reimbursement policy. Mitigation Lands - A condition of the permitting process (US Corps of Engineers 404 permit was the overarching permit) for the construction of OWASA's Cane Greek dam and impounding the reservoir was that OWASA purchase 500 acres of land to mitigate the loss of wildlife habitat that would be inundated by the reservoir. Accordingly, OWASA purchased an approximately 500 acre tract in the portion of the Cane Creek watershed lying within Bingham Township. The 404 permit required that OWASA allow the reservoir property -but not the mitigation property - to be open to the public for hunting, Over the last several years, there have been a number of ongoing discussions involving OWASA, the Intergovernmental Parks Wark Group (IPWG) and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) about the use of this mitigation land far passive park uses (hiking, etc.) and for hunting as well as potential management alternatives, To date, OWASA has declined to allow the mitigation land to be used, developed or managed to provide for any formal passive recreational program. OWASA has held discussions with the WRC about opening the mitigation lands for a permit controlled hunting program that would be administered and enforced by the WRC. In exchange far implementing this program, the requirement to open the reservoir for hunting would be dropped, FINANCIAL IMPACT: Reimbursement Policy- Implementing a reimbursement policy could represent in excess of $200,000 in savings for sewer extension costs relative to upcoming Twin Creeks park and school projects if additional development were to occur along the sewer extension route within aten-year reimbursement period, Mitigation Lands - It is not possible to calculate at this time the financial impact to the County of allowing OWASA's mitigation land to be open for inactive recreational activities, unless such a action were to be compared to the cost of purchasing another 500 acre tract in Bingham Township for use as a passive recreational park area, RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the OWASA presentation and provide any comments, questions, or additional feedback to staff,