Agenda - 09-26-2005-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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For nearly a year, County and Orange County School staff have met and negotiated with Duke Power officials as to the configuration (overhead or underground) and location of an extension of three phase power to the West Ten Middle School site, Initial discussions revalued around the desire to avoid a power line constructicn disturbance of the high value wooded area across the northern third of the school property, A proposal was made to extend three phase power -overhead -from its existing source at the east-bound I-40 truck weigh station eastward along the interstate right-of-way to the common property line between the middle school and soccer complex, then south along that line to a point where it would go underground to the school (see attached map, Route 1), When NCDOT refused to grant an easement along the interstate right-of-way, County and Board of Education staff proposed a second route for overhead power lines that would take advantage of an existing power line right-of-way and cut as well as an existing farm road cut along at the northwest corner of the school property and along the western property line to and across West Ten Road, then east along the West Ten Road right-of-way (see attached map, Route 2 and 2A), Power to the school would be taken underground from the overhead Route 2 line and extended to the school. Duke Power officials evaluated this proposal and indicated that: 1) the area west of the existing pond appear to have issues with a difficult access to the line (swampy area); and 2) if that route where chosen, the Board of Education would have to agree to build (at a cost of approximately $150,000) and perpetually maintain (cast unknown) an all weather access road along the power line route, Duke proposed to install overhead lines along the eastern side of the existing pond and the northern side of West Ten Road on school provided easements (see attached map, Route 2B). In recent discussions between Board of Education and Duke Power officials, Board officials indicated that the Board would give Duke Power the easements for the Route 2A installation, but would require that Duke install the lines underground in accordance with a formally stated School Board preference as well as in accordance with the school special use permit conditions and adopted Buckhorn Road EDD development standards. Duke Power officials have indicated that they will install overhead lines at no cost to the School Board but that an underground installation along the 2A route will cost the Schcol Board up to $250,000 (approximately 2500 linear feet of multi-conduit concrete encased duct bank with manholes at cost of approximately $100 per foot), The School Board and Board of Education staff have indicated that they are unwilling to pay this additional cost. As the school property straddles the boundary between Piedmont Electric and Duke Power service areas, School Board and Board of Education staff have also spoken with Piedmont Electric officials about the cost obtaining underground three phase power from Piedmont, Piedmont has advised that it can provide the power at a cost projected to be in the $10,000 to $20,000 rarige. However, the school building lies within the Duke Power service area (the pumping station and some athletic fields will lie within the Piedmont Electric service area), Before Piedmont can extend power to the school building, Duke Power will have to relinquish the site (considered unlikely) or the Public Utilities Commission will have to rule that Piedmont can serve the building (in response to a formal request from the Board of Education, Orange County, etc, for such a ruling). The School