HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-06-23 Minutes Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
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WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 1 of 3
Minutes
WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WSAC)
Regular Meeting
7 p.m. April 6, 2023
Town Hall Annex
Present: Chair Jenn Sykes, Vice Chair Saru Salvi, Members Daniel
Rawlins, Mo Rasheed, Grace Beeler, Eric Raznick, Steed
Robinson, Barry Weston, Commissioner Robb English
Excused: None
Guests: None
Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Environmental Engineering Supervisor Bryant Green
1. Call to order and welcome of guests
Chair Jenn Sykes called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Agenda changes and approval
No changes were presented.
Motion: Vice Chair Saru Salvi moved to approve as presented. Member Steed Robinson seconded
the motion. All in favor.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Absent for vote: 1
3. Minutes approval
No changes were presented for the February minutes.
Motion: Member Steed Robinson moved to approve as presented. Member Barry Weston seconded the
motion. All in favor.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Absent for vote: 1
4. Updates/Information
A. Environmental Engineering Supervisor Bryant Green presented the utilities updates and information.
Green started discussion around the reservoir level and GIS vendor updates. The Lawndale sewer basin
improvements are hoping to go to bid soon, and the town has ARPA funding for the work. McAdams
waterline replacement is in the design phase. Staffing updates were shared with the Committee. Green
welcomed new member Mo Rasheed to the WSAC.
B. Two fiber internet providers are expanding into the Hillsborough area. Google Fiber is currently installing
off Lawrence Road and Lumos is headed towards town, coming from Efland currently. Lumos has
timelines and milestones to hit for the funding they are receiving. The maps outlining their service areas
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can be found on the county’s website. Google has not officially released a map to the public. Google’s
efforts will focus inside the town to start, and Lumos will be starting outside the town.
Green highlighted how these fiber installations can cause line breaks. Lawrence Road’s waterline was hit
due to incorrect marks, and Orange Grove road had a water line break that day. It is important to note
that after the WSAC it was found out that the line was hit by a DOT contractor, not a fiber installer. The
committee members were further briefed on NC811 practices and who is responsible for damaged lines
and when.
5. Discussion
A. Sykes moved discussion to utility bill language. Strandwitz highlighted that there are three different areas
where utilities posts bill language. One posting location is the paper bill. Another location is language
posted when someone goes online to pay their bill, and finally there is language on the bill pay website.
Examples of the bills were shared in the agenda packet. Salvi recommended going from language that
such as a minimum to something such as base fee. Salvi expanded on this point by saying that the billing
language be updated to show a base “cost to provide service” amount.
Strandwitz detailed out how the WSAC’s recommendation would be brought to the finance department.
Modifications would be made, and then brought back to the WSAC for approval. Once approved, a launch
date for the new format will be decided upon.
Motion: Vice Chair Saru Salvi moved for staff to break out water and sewer costs based on the
base fee and usage fee. Member Daniel Rawlins seconded the motion. All in favor.
Vote: 8-0. Ayes: 8. Nays: 0.
B. The rate structure analysis for increasing block rates needed a vote for staff to move forward with.
Raftelis would be tasked with investigating rate structure options.
Motion: Vice Chair Saru Salvi moved for staff to amend the Raftelis contract to get the money in
the budget to conduct the rate model analysis. Member Barry Weston seconded the
motion. All in favor.
Vote: 8-0. Ayes: 8. Nays: 0.
C. The options for last Friday’s outreach table are either the end of April or May before the next WSAC
meeting. Sykes asked the group who would all be available for manning the table on either of those dates.
Strandwitz highlighted the shared spreadsheet for everyone’s availability. After some discussion, neither
option would work for enough members, and the subject will be revisited in June.
6. Reports
A. Member Raznick mentioned there were a couple of items from the March 13th meeting pertaining to
water and sewer. The RTLP extension contract was discussed, and 1509 Orange Grove Road rezoning
passed 3-2. Lastly, the utilities technical specifications have been updated.
From the workshop, Gatewood would like to rezone as commercial. They voted to bring it formally to the
Board.
7. Assignments for Meetings
Sykes confirmed meeting assignments for April and May with applicable members.
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8.Future Discussion Topics
A.Bill format and language
B.Budget Analysis
C.Last Friday’s outreach table
9.Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Motion: Robinson moved to adjourn. Salvi seconded the motion. All in favor.
Vote: 8-0. Ayes: 8. Nays: 0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tyler Freeman
Civil Engineering Technician
Staff support to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee
Approved: June 1, 2023