Agenda - 09-16-2008 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ac 1 OWASA Executive Director Ed Kervvin said that the OWASA Chair had a family 2 emergency and sends his n~rets. He said that one of the outcomes of the earlier meeting of 3 this group was the request for Orange County and Chatham County staff to meet to see if there 4 was something that could be done in Raleigh about Jordan Lake. This meeting happened in 5 early February, and the outcome of that meeting; which inducted offirials from Chatham County, 6 Orange Courrty, Town of Cary, OWASA, City of Dufiam, and State stafF, was that the City of 7 Dufiam expressed strong desire to develop Jordan Lake as its next major increment of supply. 8 The Deputy City Manager of Dufiam said that Dufiam wanted to move quickly and was 9 planning to present this recommendation to the City Coundl, which happened today. There is a 10 draft nesolution, which was well n:ceived by the City Counril, and it will act on the na3olution at 11 the March 3n° meeting. The nesolution states support of Dufiam asking for additional allocations 12 from Jordan Lake and diret~s the City Manager to work with potential partners in Orange 13 Courrty, OWASA, and Chatham Courrty in looking at developing an intake on the western side 14 of Jordan Lake. Also, since one of Dufiam's water treatment plants is nearing the end of its 15 useful life, Dufiam may be interested in having the water treatment farility at this site also. If 16 the resolution is passed, it will be sent to potential partners. He said that the OWASA board 17 next week would discuss this. He said that it is worth noting now that Jordan Lake is full. 18 George Lurier said that he thinks this is great and Chatham County has been interested 19 in getting a western intake. With this n~ional approach, he is supportive of this proposal. 20 Mark Chilton said that he does not share in this enthusiasm because he is ~roncemed 21 about what will be done with the water from a joint intake. He said that Chatham Courrty has 22 shown a wise usage of water that may come from this lake and he does not get the same 23 feeling from local governments in Dufiam and Wake Counties. He said that there needs to be 24 a connection between the notion of a shared intake at Jordan Lake and a good land use plan 25 that emphases sustainable growth. He said that Orange and Chatham Counties are moving 26 toward this type of growth, but he is not sure about Dufiam and Wake Counties. He is excited 27 about collaboration with Chatham County on water sharing, but he has a lot of reservations with 28 the City of Dufiam getting irnolved. Urrtil he sees the governments in Dufiam committing to a 29 pattern of growth that is more oriented towards pedestrians, bicydes, public transportation, etc., 30 then he will not be comfortable. He said that to provide water to those entities with no vision for 31 sustainable growth would be a mistake. He said that if this is going to move forward with an 32 intake on Jordan Lake, it is not just a derision of the OWASA board, but one that should be 33 made by all boards - OWASA, Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Can'boro. He said that a 34 resolution is needed from each board supporting this before it should happen. 35 Chair Jacobs said that he warrts to start making a list of things the entities would want to 36 accomplish by entering into a partnership like this. It is in Orange County's and Triangle J's 37 legislative goals that if the State is going to give money toward water and sewer infrastructure, 38 that it should require that those who use the State monies enact permanent conservation for 39 water supplies. He said that Dufiam has already started to lower its restrictions because the 40 water level has come up a little bit He would like to have some constructive conversation about 41 this. ti will be an issue in the Dufiam County Commissioners' race. He said that he knows that 42 Chatham County Commissioners are oonsrious of the growth. 43 George Lurier said that he agreed with Mark Chilton's comments, and sustainable land 44 use plans an: important in a project of this magnitude. 45 Ed Kerwin said that he is not in a rush to see the OWASA system drawing water out of 46 Jordan Lake, but it is good to know that if they need it, it will be there. 47 Mark Chilton said that these conversations have been going on for about a year with 48 Orange and Chatham, and if Dufiam is added, it does open up a lot of additional questions. He 49 is not comfortable with the proposed resolution at this time. He sees that the overall philosophy 50 and approach is that environmental protection and smart growth are a complete afterthought for 51 many colleagues to the east.