Orange County NC Website
as <br />1 Mayor Foy said that, from Chapel Hill's point of view, it has a very strong interest in land <br />2 use planning collaboration. He said that Briar Chapel will have an impact on Chapel Hill, but <br />3 Chapel Hill has no say-so in that development To the east aF Chapel Hill is prime, developable <br />4 land, and Chapel Hill has a very strong interest in getting Dufiam to listen because it has a <br />S huge impact on NC 54, I-40, etc. He said that if water is the catalyst for the ability to have <br />6 influence, then it is fine with him. He thinks that n~ional planning takes place on a theoretical <br />7 level and not a practical level. He does not want to miss an opportunity with this possible <br />8 collaboration. <br />9 Mark Chilton said that he is not saying to not have the conversation with Dufiam, but the <br />10 timeline may be a long one. He said that this intake could very well happen without Durham. <br />11 George Luger said that he does not bel"rave that is the case, and there needs to be a <br />12 regional approach with Dufiam. <br />13 It was said that any intake would be managed by DENR and it will not be owned by one <br />14 entity. <br />15 Ed Kervvin said that is consistent with his understanding, but it could be awned and <br />16 operated by a single entity with agreements in place that assures equal and fair access. He <br />17 said that, with or without OWASA, he believes that this is going to happen and Dufiam is going <br />18 to do this. This is why it is important to work hard with the elected officials. He does not want to <br />19 be left behind. <br />20 Chair Jacobs agn:ed with Mark Chilton's views of the way Dufiam grows. He said that <br />21 he has always seen this discussion as an opportunity for OWASA to have another source of <br />22 water. He also sees it the way Mayor Foy does regarding collaboration and leverage with <br />23 Dufiam. <br />24 Mayor Foy said that if OWASA runs out of water, then it would pull water out of Haw <br />25 River, which is Jordan Lake. He said that Ed Kerwin mentioned that it would cost $8 million to <br />26 get them to a place where they would have water in an emergency. <br />27 Ed Kerwin said that there would be very little infrastructure needed for OWASA because <br />28 it is already interconnected with the .City of Dufiam's water system. The worst-case scenario is, <br />29 if rainfall remains extremely low this year, that when the reservoirs reach a 15% level, OWASA <br />30 would put a temporary above-ground system to pump water from the Haw River to Cane Creek <br />31 Reservoir. The upfront costs to install that would be over $2 million. He said that the OWASA <br />32 board is fully committed to making the best use of the local resources. <br />33 In answer to a question from Chair Jacobs about adding Pittsboro to the partnership as <br />34 they move fonnrard, George Lucier said yes. <br />35 Mark Chilton said that the goal of this process should be to eliminate Pittsboro's intake <br />36 on the Haw River, which is one of the things that causes the need to keep in place the dam at <br />37 Bynum, which is not an environmental benefd to the Haw River. George Luger agreed. <br />38 Chair Jacobs said that this is another thing to add to the list of negotiating factors. <br />39 Mark Chilton said that he worries that certain State entities in Orange County that an: <br />40 only modesty under the regulations of the local govemmerrts will see this as a justification for <br />41 more growth in their activities. There will be a cronsequential result on school systems, road <br />42 infrastructure, etc. <br />43 Chair Jacobs asked about the next steps staff is envisioning for this process. He asked <br />44 if everyone would be asked to endorse this resolution. <br />45 Ed Kervvin said that when and if the Dufiam City Counal approves this at the March 3rd <br />46 meeting, then it will be communicated to the elected boards involved. He needs the OWASA <br />47 board to authorize him to engage in these discussions with local entities. <br />48 Chair Jacobs said that he would like to add this to the agenda of the AOG on March 31 ~`. <br />49 He said that OWASA should be at the AOG meeting. <br />