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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 17, 2005 <br />Action AgeSda~ <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Surveyor Services -Homestead Community Center Wastewater System Repair <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing/Engineer <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />None <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, 245-2652 <br />Paul Thames, 245-2300 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To authorize staff to enter into an agreement for surveying services associated <br />with the connection of the Homestead Community Center by sewer extension to the Orange <br />Water and Sewer Authority's sanitary sewer system. <br />BACKGROUND: The Homestead Community Center is a County-owned facility that is <br />managed by the Recreation and Parks Department, and is located at the intersection of <br />Homestead Road and Lake Hogan Farms Road just north of the Carrboro municipal limits. The <br />septic system at this facility failed in 2004. During recent months, the building has been able to <br />remain open and in service because the County has arranged for the septic tank to be pumped <br />out and the waste hauled away periodically. This approach has been viable in the short term, <br />but is not an appropriate long-term solution. <br />The Board approved a capital project ordinance in March 200,5 that appropriated funds to <br />construct a connection from the Homestead Center to OWASA's sanitary sewer system, which <br />is located within abotat 700 feet of the building. A constriction/alignment survey will be required <br />prior to commencement of the sewer connection engineering design work, which will be <br />conducted in house by the County Engineer staff. <br />Contracts for surveyors must by North Carolina statute be based on qualifications rather than <br />cost. NCGS § 143-64.32 allows counties to exempt themselves from a selection process far <br />surveyors on any project if the professional fee will be less than $30,000, or, in their discretion, <br />on any project by stating the reasons therefore. In order to expedite the survey work and since <br />the cost of the work is estimated to be substantially less than the $30,000 threshold, staff <br />recommend that the County exempt this project from the selection process, <br />