HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1743had a Bachelor's degree in Biology from UNC -Charlotte. Also, he had a Master's degree in Soil
Science from N.C. State. Fortner asked what Jacobs did in his capacity as a soil scientist. He said
he primarily worked in waste disposal (septic, spray irrigation and treatment of contaminated soil).
Mr. Jacobs said his line of work dealt with looking at a tract of land and deciding what the soil's
potential was for waste disposal. Jacobs acknowledged that a "great deal of his income billing" was
in sewage and probably about 40% was in southern lredell County. Jacobs said he did have a
personal interest in the matter since a part of it was his livelihood, but also because he lived in the
area. Jacobs said there had never been a reported case of well contamination at Lake Norman from
septic tanks.
MR. JOHN GILBERT, P.E., PRESIDENT OF GILBERT ENGINEERING: Gilbert
said the health department required a set aside area of an equal area to be reserved for future use by
septic tanks. The assumption for this is that every septic tank will eventually fail. Gilbert said he
believed that municipal systems, where waste is treated, the effluent is monitored, and the water is
purified before it enters the streams again, was superior over septic tanks. He said he felt this was
especially true where there were concentrated numbers of large groups of housing units. He
mentioned the lake would raise the ground water level to some extent. Gilbert said he thought that
in the best interest of the County, and in the greater good of the residents of the County, that to put
in a sewage pump system and pumping to a municipality for treatment would be the preferred way
of developing and handling the waste of the area.
Commissioner Fortner said she had talked to Mr. Rex Gleason, N.C. Department of
Environment, Health and Natural Resources in Mooresville, N.C. Mrs. Fortner said Gleason
worked with septic, package treatment plants, and municipal sewer. Gleason was asked his
opinion on the most suitable way of disposing of waste and he said that, by far, the municipal sewer
system was best.
Chairman Haire said that at a past meeting the county manager had been requested to review
the funding methods for a potential water and sewer service area. Mashburn said his understanding
was that the Board voted favorably towards the concept, but some items needed to be resolved before
some members could agree on the proposal. Mr. Mashburn said that in past meetings, it was felt by
a few members that the developers had used high numbers in their predictions of housing units. The
planning department then reviewed statistics of building permits issued on the Brawley School Road
peninsula and the Davidson area. Mashburn said his findings revealed a $653,000 deficit up until
the sixth year using 100 units. At the twelfth year, after borrowing $2.5 million at 5.25% for 15
years, the entire deficit would be wiped out and a surplus began. Using 166 units, a surplus of
revenue over debt service could be achieved by year six. The deficit would be paid back by year
eleven.
Commissioner Johnson asked if there would be a return on the County's money. Mashburn
said the example was dollar for dollar. Johnson said that taking inflation into account, the money
paid back would be less valuable than what was paid initially.
Mashburn said the Local Goverment Commission had said the quickest, easiest way would
be for the County to build the system and then lease it to a water sewer district. The district would
then payback the costs over a period of time. Blumenstein said the price of the lease would be in
annual debt service.
Chairman Haire said time was of the essence in order to take advantage of the $3 million
contribution from Crescent. Mashburn said he talked to Tom Webb of Crescent Resources, and
was told again that utilities would be needed by September of 1998. Mr. Mashburn said the Town
of Mooresville had not made any commitments and the Department of Transportation would have
to grant the right-of-way.
Commissioner Boone said he felt to make the project work, in accordance with a prior
motion, that fairly substantial tap on fees would have to be charged. Mashburn said that all of the
funding examples were based on 6,000 gallons (average monthly usage per connection).