The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority has drafted a formal growth policy that spells out the hows and whys of extending water and sewer service to areas of Wilmington and New Hanover County not currently served.
While only in draft form at this point, the policy sheds some light on the approach the authority would take with certain situations, including the current debate of how to pay for septic-to-sewer projects planned for Marquis Hills and Heritage Park.
The two neighborhoods are considered the top two areas in the county for septic system failures, but county and authority officials remain undecided as to which agency would pay for the projects.
At a meeting this week, the authority’s finance committee asked Commissioner Tom Wolfe, who represents the county on the authority board, to see if the the county would be open to sharing in some of the cost of the projects—projected to cost about $18 million, over the course of a 20-year loan.
Officials had discussed transferring the project’s funding responsibility from the county, which acquired that loan, to the authority, which would install and manage the improvements. But members of the authority board have said they should not bear the full burden alone. (See previous story)
“I would love to be part of the solution, but I don’t think we are the solution,” said Michael Brown, the board’s treasurer, at the finance committee meeting this week.
“I know there’s a problem out there,” he added. “If all parties would discuss their part of the solution, that would be great.”
The draft policy reflects that stance in relation to system expansions prompted by public health and safety concerns, which the county’s health department has labeled the neighborhoods’ septic system failures.
The draft states: “If the Authority receives notice from a competent authority (e.g., the Health Department of the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County or State of North Carolina) of a public health or safety hazard due to failing septic or failing wells within the Authority’s service area, the Authority will extend service to the affected neighborhood.” Costs would be borne in part by customers paying system development charges and assessments, the policy adds.
However, later in the same subsection, the draft states the following:
“If the Authority determines that, based on household income in the affected area, there is no substantive ability to repay the costs of either backbone facilities or local facilities, the Board of Directors shall seek cost participation by other governmental entities such as the City of Wilmington and/or New Hanover County.”
The policy addresses other situations, including: expansions to new developments, in the authority’s established service area; major industrial or large-demand customers; petitions for service by established communities; individual property owner requests; authority-initiated expansions or improvements; city or county requests for expansion; and acquisition of existing utilities and facilities.
The draft document can be viewed here. The board will review the policy at its regular meeting on Wednesday, the agenda for which can be found here.
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
