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HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-06-23 Minutes Regular Meeting101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 1 of 3 Minutes WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WSAC) Regular meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 6, 2023 Town Hall Annex Present: Chair Jenn Sykes, Vice Chair Saru Salvi, Members Daniel Rawlins, Steed Robinson, Barry Weston, Mayor Jenn Weaver Excused: Member Paul Cough Guests: Grace Beeler, Eric Raznick Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Civil Engineering Technician Tyler Freeman, 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 Chair Sykes motioned to add Last Fridays as item 5E to the agenda. Motion: Member Barry Weston moved to approve the addition. Member Steed Robinson seconded the motion. Vice Chair Salvi declined. Vote: 3-1. Ayes: 3. Nays: 1. 3.Minutes approval No changes were presented for the December minutes. Motion: Vice Chair Saru Salvi moved to approve as presented. Member Steed Robinson seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 4-0. Ayes: 4. Nays: 0. 4.Updates/Information A.Utilities Director Strandwitz asked if there were any questions regarding utilities updates. Salvi asked if recent rains have raised the reservoir. Strandwitz replied that the reservoir has 9.5 feet to go to reach the new Phase 2 level. Weston asked for clarification on the funding opportunities listed in the utility’s status report. Strandwitz clarified that the $1.27M is all for the booster pump station, with the town matching a percentage based on the funding source. B.The WSAC introduced themselves to the two prospective members attending as guests who will be presented to the Board of Commissioners for appointment, Grace Beeler and Eric Raznick. Beeler and Raznick then introduced themselves to the group and touched on their backgrounds. WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 2 of 3 C. Sykes explained how meeting assignments work and ways to attend. The attendee’s responsibility is to report back any water and sewer related information discussed at their assigned meetings. Board meeting assignments were then discussed. The schedule will be sent out to everyone. 5. Discussion A. The agenda for the February Joint Meeting with the Board of Commissioners was presented and no changes were made. B. The WSAC’s Charter and attendance policy were reviewed. Excused and unexcused absences were discussed. Salvi inquired if the Charter could be changed. Any changes to the charter would need to be approved by the Board of Commissioners. Strandwitz outlined a document describing staff responsibilities for vacancies in board volunteers. C. Strandwitz presented the proposed changes to the leak adjustment code. Discussion around the wording for irrigation came up. Weston asks that section C only apply to residents and not builders/contractors. Section 14-19 will need to be edited to include irrigation for new landscaping. Wording was decided to be roughly: a resident has 90 days after receiving a certificate of occupancy to apply for an adjustment. Many variations and options for this wording were floated, and Strandwitz said she would propose new wording at a future meeting. Discussion moved to the wording describing the function of the WSAC when an appeal is brought to the committee. The language adopted was, “The financial services department director has the final decision- making authority.” This would be added after the sentence stating the WSAC does not have authority to make the determination. The WSAC agreed to add wording that indicates that despite seeking an adjustment, all bills still need to be paid while adjustment review is pending with regular payment options still applying. D. The committee then moved discussion to the town and institutional usage data presented from FY 2021 (July 2021 – June 2022). Strandwitz elaborated on what constitutes an institutional customer and illustrated the largest institutional customers the town services. She went over the “town-no-charge” accounts. Weston inquired about the amount of water used in auto flushing. Strandwitz elaborated about how about ten auto flushers placed at dead end lines run 24/7 to keep the chlorine levels at detectable levels. Strandwitz also indicated the Orange County School Board (a large institutional customer) had requested reduced rates for all schools on the town system. She asked surrounding utilities regarding reduced school rates. She stated that only one utility service in Henderson County responded they had reduced rates for schools due to their Board’s approval. She explained that schools already receive a fair rate when the cost of servicing them is considered and that she had responded to the school board’s E- mail. E. Sykes opened the topic on Last Fridays. Sykes said an online signup sheet would be created for members to select dates to work with the goal of two people working the stand at a minimum. A document will also be created for committee members to add events they think should have the tables along with days they would be interested in attending. 6. Reports A. Salvi discussed the Dec. 12 general board meeting, the only assigned meeting in December. The board approved rezoning to high density office for Owls Woods. 7. Assignments for Meetings Sykes confirmed meeting assignments for January with applicable members. WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 3 of 3 8. Future Discussion Topics A. Bill format and language 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Motion: Weston moved to adjourn. Salvi seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 4-0. Ayes:4. Nays: 0. Respectfully submitted, Tyler Freeman, EIT Civil Engineering Technician Approved: Feb. 2, 2023