Regular Meeting
MINUTES
The Holly Springs
Town Council met in regular session on
Council Members Present: Councilmen Ernie Pearson, Parrish Womble and
Council Members Absent:
Councilmen Peter Atwell and Chet VanFossen.
Staff Members Present:
Carl G. Dean, town manager;
2 and 3. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the
meeting opened with an invocation by Rev. Horace Ferguson, pastor of
4. Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion
By: Dickson
Second
By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous
Items
Added to the Agenda: None.
Consent
Agenda Items Removed: Remove from
New Business agenda item 8e., consideration of approval of the remaining
portion of contract for wastewater treatment plant expansion (which was
addressed during the
Other
Changes: None.
5a.
Public Hearing: Resolutions 05-01.1
and 05-06.1 – Mr. Holland said that on
Since that time, he reported, town
staff had determined that another public hearing was necessary – as the first
hearing notice was not published by the newspaper as required by State statute
and because the lending institution requires adoption of documents in a
particular format not generally used by the Town.
The following is a record of the
proceedings for this public hearing and of action taken following the hearing.
“The Town Council of the
Town of Holly Springs,
Present: Mayor Richard G. Sears, presiding, and Council
Members Ernest C. Pearson, Parrish Womble, and Hank Dickson.
Absent: Council Members
Peter Atwell and Chet VanFossen.
Also present:
* * *
*
The Mayor
announced that this was the hour and day of the public hearing on a proposed
installment financing agreement to be entered into by the Town of Holly Springs
pursuant to Section 160A-20 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, as
amended (the “Act”), in a principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000 for the
purpose of providing funds, together with any other available funds, to pay the
cost of acquiring, constructing and equipping a fire station for the Town of
Holly Springs and constructing related infrastructure improvements. Such financing would be secured by a deed of
trust on the site of the fire station and all of the buildings, improvements
and fixtures to be located thereon.
The Mayor
acknowledged due publication of the notice of public hearing in a newspaper
with a general circulation in said Town as required by Section 160A-20(g) of
the Act and directed the Town Clerk to attach the affidavit showing publication
in said paper on a date at least ten days prior to the date hereof as Exhibit A hereto.
The Mayor
then announced that the Town Council would immediately hear anyone who might
wish to be heard on advisability of the proposed project or financing as so
described.
The
persons making comments and a summary of such comments were: None.
There
being no comments, the public hearing was closed.
Thereupon,
Mayor Sears introduced the following resolutions, the titles of which were read
and copies of which had been distributed to each Council Member: Resolution
05-01.1 making findings of fact supporting installment financing as the best
means of providing funding for this project and authorizing the Town to apply
for Local Government Commission approval; and Resolution 05-06.1, a bank resolution
setting out terms of the loan and authorizing a loan agreement with Wachovia
Bank.
Resolution No.: 05-01.1
Date Submitted:
Date Adopted:
RESOLUTION OF THE HOLLY SPRINGS TOWN
COUNCIL
AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION
FOR APPROVAL OF A FINANCING AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED BY N.C.G.S. 160A-20
WHEREAS, the Town of Holly Springs, North
Carolina desires to construct a new fire station (the AProject@) to better serve the citizens of
Holly Springs; and
WHEREAS,
the Town of Holly Springs desires to finance the Project by the use of
an installment financing contract authorized under North Carolina General
Statute 160A, Article 3, Section 20; and
WHEREAS, findings of fact by this governing
body must be presented to enable the North Carolina Local Government Commission
to make its findings of fact set forth in North Carolina General Statute 159,
Article 8, Section 151 prior to approval of the proposed contract;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of Holly Springs,
1. The
proposed contract is necessary or expedient because the Town desires to improve
fire protection services as quickly as possible and needs to replace an
existing station.
2. The
proposed contract is preferable to a bond issue for the same purpose because
the method of financing proposed best allows the Town to pay for the
improvements over a shorter period of time, thereby saving long-term costs to
the Town.
3.
N/A [The cost of financing under the proposed contracts are
greater than the cost of issuing general obligation bonds.]
4. The
sums to fall due under the contract is adequate and not excessive for the
proposed purpose because the general fund generates adequate revenues to meet
the debt obligations, and the debt meets the purpose as outlined in the General
Statutes. Further, the Town can invest
existing fund balance at a higher rate than the proposed interest rates, providing
extra revenues to offset the debt obligations.
5. The Town of Holly Springs= debt management procedures and
policies are good because they fully comply with all statutory requirements
involving debt management.
6. The
increase in taxes necessary to meet the sums to fall due under the proposed
contract will be -0- cents per $100 valuation and is not deemed to be
excessive.
7. The
Town of Holly Springs is not in default in any of its debt service obligations.
8. The
attorney for the Town of Holly Springs has rendered an opinion that the
proposed Project is authorized by law and is a purpose for which public funds
may be expended pursuant to the Constitution and laws of
9. The
Town=s probable net revenues will be
sufficient to meet the sums to fall due under the proposed contract of the
project to be financed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the
Town Manager is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the Town of Holly Springs
in filing an application with the North Carolina Local Government Commission
for approval of the Project and the proposed financing contract and other
actions not inconsistent with this resolution.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution 05-01 adopted on
This
resolution is effective upon its adoption this 15th day of February,
2005.
Upon motion of Council Member Ernest
C. Pearson, seconded by Council Member Parrish Womble, the foregoing resolution
entitled “RESOLUTION OF THE HOLLY
SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A
FINANCING AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED BY N.C.G.S. 160A-20” was passed by the
following vote:
Ayes: 3 (Councilmen Ernest C. Pearson, Parrish Womble,
and Hank Dickson.)
Noes: 0
Absent
and not voting: 2 (Councilmen Peter
Atwell and Chet VanFossen.)
Resolution No.:
05-06.1
Date Submitted:
Date Adopted:
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT, A
DEED OF TRUST AND RELATED DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINANCING OF
CONSTRUCTION OF A FIRE STATION AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
BE IT RESOLVED
by the Town Council (the “Town Council”) of the Town of
Section
1.
The Town Council does hereby find and determine as follows:
(a) There exists in the Town a need for
the acquisition, construction and equipping of a fire station and related
infrastructure improvements (the “Project”).
(b) After a public hearing and due
consideration, the Town Council has determined that the most efficient manner
of financing the Project will be through the entering of an Installment
Financing Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Town and Wachovia Bank,
National Association (the “Bank”) pursuant to Section 160A-20 of the General
Statues of North Carolina, as amended.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Bank will advance moneys to the Town in
an amount sufficient to pay the cost of the Project, and the Town will repay
the advancement in installments, with interest (the “Installment Payments”).
(c) In order to secure the
repayment pursuant to the terms of the Agreement by the Town of the advance of
moneys for acquisition and construction of the Project, the Town will execute
and deliver a Deed of Trust (the “Deed of Trust”) granting to the Bank a lien
on the site of the Project and all buildings, improvements and fixtures located
or to be located thereon.
(d) There has been presented to the Town
Council at this meeting drafts of the Agreement and the Deed of Trust.
Section
2.
In order to provide for the financing of the Project, the Town is hereby
authorized to enter into the Agreement and receive an advancement pursuant
thereto in a principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000. The Town shall repay the advancement in
installments due in the amounts and at the times set forth in the
Agreement. The payments of the
Installment Payments shall be designated as principal and interest as provided
in the Agreement.
Section
3.
The Town Council hereby approves the Agreement and the Deed of Trust in
substantially the forms presented at this meeting. The Mayor and the Town Manager are each
hereby authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Town each of said
documents in substantially the forms presented at this meeting, containing such
insertions, deletions and filling in of blanks as the person executing such
documents shall approve, such execution to be conclusive evidence of approval
by the Town Council of any such changes.
The Town Clerk or any Deputy or Assistant Town Clerk is hereby
authorized and directed to affix the corporate seal of the Town to each of said
documents and to attest the same.
Section
4.
No deficiency judgment may be rendered against the Town in any action for
breach of any contractual obligation authorized pursuant to this resolution and
the taxing power of the Town is not and may not be pledged directly or
indirectly to secure any moneys due under any contract herein authorized.
Section
5.
The Mayor, the Town Manager, the Finance Director and the Town Clerk of
the Town, and any other officers, agents and employees of the Town, are hereby
authorized and directed to execute and deliver such closing certificates,
opinions and other items of evidence as shall be deemed necessary to consummate
the transactions described above.
Section
6.
The Town hereby represents that it reasonably expects that it, all
subordinate entities thereof and all issuers issuing obligations on behalf of
the Town, will not issue in the aggregate more than $10,000,000 of tax-exempt
obligations (not counting private-activity bonds except for qualified 501(c)(3)
bonds as defined in the Code) during calendar year 2005. In addition, the Town hereby designates each
of the installment payments under the Agreement as a “qualified tax-exempt
obligation” for the purposes of the Code.
Section
7.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
Upon motion of
Council Member Ernest C. Pearson, seconded by Council Member Parrish Womble,
the foregoing resolution entitled “RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT, A
DEED OF TRUST AND RELATED DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINANCING OF
CONSTRUCTION OF A FIRE STATION AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS” was
passed by the following vote:
Ayes: 3 (Councilmen Ernest C. Pearson, Parrish Womble,
and Hank Dickson.)
Noes: 0
Absent and not voting:
2 (Councilmen Peter Atwell and Chet VanFossen.)
Copies of Resolutions 05-01.1 and 05-06.1 and a copy of the affidavit of
publication evidencing published public notice of the hearing and referenced in
this record as Exhibit A, are incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
* *
* * *
*
I,
I
DO HEREBY FURTHER CERTIFY that a
schedule of the regular meetings of said Town Council, stating that the regular
meetings of said Town Council, are held in the Council Chambers of Holly
Springs Town Hall, 128 S. Main Street in Holly Springs, North Carolina, on the
first and third Tuesday each month at 7:00 p.m., has been on file in my office
at least seven calendar days prior to said meeting in accordance with G.S.
§143-318.12.
WITNESS my hand and official seal of said Town this 18th
day of February.
[SEAL]
__________________________ _____________________________
Richard G.
Sears Joni
Powell, CMC
Mayor Town
Clerk
5b.
Public Hearing: Rezoning Petition
05-REZ-01 Irving Property – Mr. Jones explained that the Town has received a petition for
rezoning of 21.038 acres near the intersection
of Sunset Lake Road and Edwards Drive from R-30 residential upon annexation to
R-10 residential. He said the subject property
is located outside the
Mr. Jones said the request would be in
conformance with the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Growth Plan, which
designates this area for medium-density residential development.
Mr. Jones reported that the Planning Board
recommends approval, following a 5-1 vote.
With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears opened the
public hearing to accept input. The
following comments were recorded: None.
There being no comments, the public hearing was closed.
Action: No action was taken at this time.
5c.
Public Hearing: Annexation
Ordinance A05-02 Irving Property - Mr. Jones said the Town has received a petition for
voluntary annexation of 21.038 acres located along
Mr. Jones said that the parcel lies on the north side of
Sunset Lake Road; however, the annexation boundary agreement between Holly
Springs and Apex, does not address this area as the line comes to a stop a few
hundred feet from this property. He said
that the Town’s utilities are located at the property, and the property is
closer to
With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears opened the
public hearing to accept input. The
following comments were recorded: None.
There being no comments, the public hearing was closed.
Action
#1: The Council approved a motion to
adopt Annexation Ordinance A05-02 annexing 21.038 acres owned by Vivian E.
Irving, and more particularly described as Wake County Pin: 0750.04-82-2422,
into the corporate limits of the Town of Holly Springs.
Motion By:
Womble
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
A copy of Annexation Ordinance
A05-02 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
Action #2:
The Council approved a motion to approve Zone Map Change Petition #05-REZ-01
to change the zoning of Wake County PIN # 0750.04-82-2422 from R-30:
Residential, to R-10: Residential district as submitted by John Teel of
Stewart-Proctor.
Motion By:
Womble
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
5d.
Public Hearing: Annexation
Ordinance A05-03 Murphy Property - Mr. Jones said the
Town has received a petition for voluntary annexation of land containing
104.943 acres located along and adjacent to the Arbor Creek PUD. He said that the property is being developed
as Bridgewater Subdivision. He added
that the petition meets all the statutory requirements for annexation.
With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears opened the
public hearing to accept input. The
following comments were recorded: None.
There being no comments, the public hearing was closed.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to adopt Annexation Ordinance A05-03
annexing 104.943 acres owned by Paul R. Murphy, and more particularly described
as Wake County Pin(s): 0659.01-08-0731, 0649.02-98-7617, 0649.02-98-6544 and
0659.01-18-9873, into the corporate limits of the Town of Holly Springs.
Motion By:
Dickson
Second
By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous
A copy of Annexation Ordinance A05-03
is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
6.
Consent Agenda: All items
on the Consent Agenda were approved following a motion by Councilman Dickson, a
second by Councilman Womble and a unanimous vote. The following actions were affected:
6a. Budget
Amendments #36 through #46 – The Council received a report of FY 2004-05 budget amendments #36
through #46. A copy of the report of budget amendments #36 through #46 is
incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
6b.
Resolution 05-07 – The Council adopted Resolution 05-07, a
reimbursement resolution for the wastewater treatment plant expansion. A copy
of Resolution 05-07 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7.
Mr.
Hammerbacher said that the applicant has provided volumetric calculation of
sewer capacity and documentation of communications with
Councilman Pearson asked
if required landscaping would be enough to avoid disturbance of neighbors from
car headlights.
Mr. Hammerbacher said the
property requires an opaque perimeter buffer, and the parking lot would require
additional fast-growing shrubbery.
Councilman Dickson said
the two-foot holly bushes that are planned might be adequate if planted
appropriately.
Randy Miller of Thompson
and Associates addressed the Council, pointing out that there is an 180-foot
Progress Energy easement and elevation difference. He suggested that a berm could be added to
the plan between the parking lot and the affected residential properties and that
the landscaping could be placed on top of the berm.
The Council agreed that
this would be a good suggested to add as a condition.
Ms. Sudano addressed the
issue of public sewer connection of the property.
She said a private soil
scientist has deemed the existing septic system on the site to be adequate;
however, she said staff would recommend that a condition of approval be that
Paul Brewer, developer of
the project, addressed the Council, explaining that, at the Council’s
direction, the developer to renewed efforts to gain access across the property
of
As for landscaping of
parking lot, he said, the developer wants to add to the attractiveness of the neighborhood
and not detract from it. The berm, he
agreed, would be a positive solution for both the neighbors and the developer.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to approve Development Plan #04-DP-04 for
1. The northern-most driveway is to be removed prior to CO
for change of use. Additionally, the southernmost driveway shall be widened to
Town standards to accommodate vehicle egress and ingress.
2. Roadway improvements required to be constructed with the
project.
3. Documentation of adequacy of existing septic system must
be provided for site to develop without connection to public sewer. If such documentation cannot be provided,
site will be required to connect to offsite public sewer.
4. Stormwater
discharged from site after development must equal or be less than that prior to
development.
5. A berm be added to
a revised development plan between the parking lot and residential properties
and putting landscaping on top of the berm to protect neighboring properties
from glare of headlights.
Motion
By: Dickson
Second
By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous
8a.
Time Warner Cable’s 2005 Rate Filing Forms - Mr. Bob Sepe of Action Audits, the Town’s
cable consultant through the Triangle J Council of Governments cable
consortium, explained to the Town Council the report he compiled for the Town's
cable television franchise/rate filings after his review of Time Warner Cable's
2005 FCC 1240, FCC 1235 and FCC 1205 forms that were filed seeking approval to
set new rates for regulated cable services.
Mr. Sepe said that as a local franchising authority, the
Town is authorized to review TWC's annual rate forms to determine whether the
operator's proposed rate increase for installation and lease of equipment
conforms to FCC rules. He said if the
proposed rates are accurately calculated, pursuant to the FCC's regulations,
the rate can be deemed reasonable and lawful under the 1992 Cable Act. He said that this is for basic service and
equipment lease rates. Upper tier
service rates can be increased by the cable company upon 30 days notice to the
Town.
Mr. Sepe expressed his concern that Time Warner's Form FCC
1235 "add-on" rate no longer complies with the FCC's cost of service
rate rules and that the company should submit a revised Form 1235. And,
he has requested additional financial information from Time Warner in an effort
to clarify the company's recovery of upgrade charges, and the company has
declined to provide him with the information.
He explained that between 1995 and
2000, Time Warner collected a monthly fee of $1.89 from each customer to
recover capital costs of a future system upgrade, which was completed in 2000. In
10 years, the upgrade charge should eventually decrease or even disappear as
the original debt is retired, he said.
He added that the upgrade charge should decrease as
Mr. Sepe said that his recommendation,
then, is to adopt the his proposed Rate Order accepting the rates contained in
Time Warner Cable's Forms 1240 and 1205; and rejecting the company's Form 1235;
and ordering that a revised Form 1235 and financial upgrade recovery cost
summary statement be presented to the Town of Holly Springs within 30 days of
adoption of the Order.
With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears said that this
is not a public hearing but opened the meeting to accept public input. The following comments were recorded: None.
There being no comments, the public comment section was
closed.
Ms. Powell advised Mayor Sears that Andi Curtis of Time
Warner Cable had requested that she be allowed to address the issue; however,
Ms. Curtis was not present. The Council
agreed to table further discussion and action for a time to give Ms. Curtis
time to arrive from another meeting in Apex.
At
Ms. Curtis said the company would share information requested
with the Town Council if action is deferred.
She said it is Time Warner’s position that form 1235 needs no
resubmittal. She stressed that the cable company would be willing to provide
the financial information directly with the Town, but indicated the company was
not willing to share the information with the Town’s consultant.
The Council consensus was to talk further about the matter in
closed session.
No action.
8b.
FY 2003-04 Financial Audit Report
– Mr. Holland introduced Chris Abbott of Duke
& Abbott, CPA’s. P. A., who presented to the Town Council the results of
the Town’s FY 2003-2004 financial audit.
In summary, he said the town was sound
financial shape and that no deficiencies were noted in the Town’s record
keeping practices during the year. He
stressed that it is rare for an auditing firm to not find any areas for
improvement, and he commended the finance director, his department and all town
departments.
Action: The Council approved a motion to accept the
findings in the report and to commend the Town’s finance department for having
no findings of deficiencies or management letter.
Motion
By: Pearson
Second
By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous
A copy of the Duke & Abbott, CPA’s. P. A., report on compliance and on internal control over
financial reporting is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
8c.
Gable Ridge Flood Study Report - Ms. Stephenson explained that in October, 2004, the Town
Council approved a contract with Sungate Design Group, P.A. to work with staff
to model a number of possible improvements -- including detention, pipe
upgrades, and an overflow channel – that would relieve flooding in the Gable
Ridge drainage basin.
Ms. Stephenson reported to the
Council that the engineering design group determined that the existing drainage
pipe is damaged, causing complete failure of the pipe to handle the flow of
water. Ms. Stephenson said town staff
would like council direction as to how the Town should proceed in alleviating
frequent flooding conditions in this area.
Options, she said, would include providing detention areas, replacing
the pipe, building a drainage channel or a combination of any or all three of
these things.
Ms. Stephenson added that after agenda
packets were issued to council members on March 9 with staff recommendations
enclosed, postcards were mailed to residents in the drainage basin. Resident questions and comments, she said, have
prompted staff to change its recommendation from asking the council to decide
the best means of moving forward to delaying a decision on how to proceed until
after an informational meeting is held with residents of the neighborhoods
affected.
She said staff would like to first
hold a public informational meeting with all affected residents and then return
to council with their comments and possibly a revised recommendation reflecting
how residents of the area would like the town to proceed.
She noted, however, that there is a sense
of urgency about the project, so staff would like to get with residents as soon
as possible so that work can begin as soon as it is practical.
Ms. Stephenson introduced Mr.
Charlie Musser of Sungate Design, who was available for questions on the study’s
results. Mr. Musser outlined each of the
options listed in his report.
Staff provided the Council with an
Excel spreadsheet describing each of the options, the estimated cost, notes on
environmental agency permitting and street disruptions issues for each option,
and anticipated water flow reduction the Town could expect from each under two
scenarios: a 25-year storm event and a
100-year storm event.
Mayor Sears then invited Mr. Bill
Donson to take the floor, as he had signed up to speak on this issue under
Public Comment. Mr. Donson said his lot
is the most impacted property in the neighborhood. He said he is looking forward to the public information
meeting to be scheduled by staff as a forum to address his concerns.
Members of the Town Council agreed in
discussion that they, too, would like to hear what residents believe would be
the best solution.
Mayor Sears invited Mr. Alex Guess
to speak. Mr. Guess explained that a creek
bed goes between his and Mr. Donson’s property.
He said their concern is the structural damage to pipe and the resulting
dangerous conditions of rapid flood waters that flow between his and Mr.
Donson’s homes. He thanked the Council
for directing engineering staff to assist with this problem last fall, and he thanked
the engineering department for staff courtesy in responding to concerns and their
quick work to find a solution.
Mayor Sears asked what type of media
would be used to notify residents of the public information meeting.
Ms. Stephenson said a postcard
notification is planned. Council members
asked staff to go an extra step by providing information on the Town’s website
and with flyers or door-hangers for residences.
Councilman Dickson asked how Wake County
Public School System was addressing erosion control issues that were identified
as one of the problems.
Ms. Stephenson said the contractor is
working -- albeit slowly -- to stabilize the area.
Action: The Council approved a motion to table further
discussion until March 15 – or as soon thereafter as is practicable --
following an informational meeting with residents.
Motion
By: Womble
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
8d. Sunset Ridge Pump
Station Sewer Odors - Mr. Tom Mix, a resident of Sunset Ridge subdivision, addressed the Town
Council regarding sewer odors emitting from the Sunset Ridge pump station
adjacent to his property.
Mr. Mix said his original concerns
with enlargement of the pump station were its appearance, its visibility, the
footprint of the project and odor.
While the town worked to address
most of his concerns, Mr. Mix said, odor has been and continues to be a
problem. He reported that the smell is
overwhelming at times and that he cannot fully enjoy his own property.
Mr. Mix said when he notices an
odor, he calls Mr. Tillage, and Mr. Tillage responds. He said Mr. Tillage would make adjustments
that would temporarily solve the problem, but, after a while, whatever
adjustments were made would no longer work.
Mr. Mix said a charcoal filter did
not work. Odor blockers did not work. He
said he is frustrated.
Councilman Pearson asked if Mr. Mix
had any suggestions as to what could be done that is not being done. Mr. Mix suggested treating the wastewater
upstream, perhaps.
Mayor Sears said solving problems at
the pump station is a work in process and that the Council empathizes with Mr.
Mix.
In reference to treating upstream,
Mr. Tillage advised the Council that his department is treating wastewater
upstream from the pump station. He added
that crews regularly clean this pump station of an unusually high amount of
grease. He said the odor control
measures that are being taken have been effective at pump stations in other
parts of town.
Mr. Mix asked if there was something
that was stronger or more aggressive at controlling odors.
Mr. Dean said maybe increased flow
at the pump station would help because it would move the water out, rather than
letting it sit and accumulate odorous gases.
The pump might have to work more for longer periods of time, but it
might be a solution. He said this has
not been attempted in the past because starting and stopping the pump more
often might tear up the pump.
As for other types of upstream
chemicals, Mr. Tillage said, he is using the recommended amount of ferrous
sulfate, based on the amount of sulfides coming from this station. For the level of sulfides, he explained,
ferrous sulfate is the recommended chemical for odor control.
Chuck Carver, a neighboring
resident, asked and was allowed to address the council.
Mr. Carver suggested the following
measures: replacing the charcoal filters
more frequently and more regularly; eliminating duct tape on the piping and
fittings; consulting an odor control expert; placing odor measurement devices
to determine how much smell is being created and when so that the town can then
understand with what it is dealing.
Mr. Mix said that when the pump
station was put online in Summer 2002, there were weekly odor problems. Since then, he added, measures that were
taken to eliminate the problem did not work and it appears to him that the town
has given up trying. He stressed that
the odor problem has been consistent.
Mr. Mix said that lately, the odor
problem has been less frequent, but that it is still there.
Mr. Tillage responded to questions
about increasing the flow in the pump station to keep the waste material moving
through the system. He said there would
be increased costs to the town in regard to pump motor replacements and
electricity.
The consensus of the Council was
that this should be tried, regardless of the cost.
Mayor Sears said the town staff
would look into the list of suggested solutions and make efforts and that the
Council would revisit the situation again in March.
In agenda packets, Mr. Tillage had
provided the Town Council members with an explanation of measures the Town has
taken to this point in an effort to control odors associated with the presence
of sewer gases (mainly hydrogen sulfide, which produces a rotten egg / sulfur
smell and can be detected at very low concentrations) at the Sunset Ridge sewer
lift station. He said the following:
• Our Department,
along with the Public Works Department, remove excessive amounts of grease from
the lift station on at least a quarterly basis, and more often if necessary.
• We are adding an
odor binding chemical called ferrous sulfate at the Middle Creek lift station,
which pumps waste from the Middle Creek area into the Sunset Ridge lift
station. We did extensive studies (in conjunction with The Wooten Company and
US Filter) to determine correct feed rates to control hydrogen sulfide gas
emissions at peak flow as well as low flow.
• To handle odors
that might be escaping from the station itself, we installed a Carbtrol Odor
Control System. This system uses an exhaust fan to pull odiferous gases from
the wet well into a container saturated with potassium hydroxide impregnated
carbon to adsorb and oxidize odor causing compounds.
He said the hydrogen sulfide is broken down as
it enters the system into water and sulfur. He said the sulfur binds to the carbon surface
and remains in the container while the water molecules are evaporated into the
air. A person can literally stand in
front of the exhaust pipe to the Carbtrol System and not smell any odors, he
said.
Action: The Council directed that Mr. Tillage explore
other measures as suggested and to report back to the Council in March.
9. Public Comment: At this time, an opportunity was
provided for members of the audience who had registered to speak to address the
Council on any variety of topics not listed on the night’s agenda. The following citizens were heard: None.
10.
Other Business: None.
11.
Manager’s Report: Mr. Dean reminded Councilmen of
the upcoming Town Council Winter Retreat that is scheduled for Feb. 25-27 at
Pine Needles Lodge in Southern Pines; and he reported that on March 9, an
organization-wide customer service class will be provided to staff, so Town Hall
will be closed at 3:15 p.m. on that day, if the Council would so direct.
The Council agreed closing Town Hall
would be worthwhile for this training.
Councilman Pearson noted that there
are dangerous nails sticking out from the recycling area.
Councilman Womble noted overhanging
branches on
12. Closed Session: The Council approved a motion to enter into
Closed Session, pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) under the attorney-client
privilege to discuss a matter of condemnation settlement and pursuant to G.S.
143-318.11(a)(7) to hear matters concerning investigation of alleged criminal
misconduct of a Town employee and pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) discuss
economic development incentives.
Motion By: Womble
Second By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
General Account of Closed Session –
In Closed Session, the Town Council gave direction to the
Town Attorney in regard to acquiring road right of way in connection with
construction of the fire station; the Town Manager reported to the Council
about the arrest, resignation and continuing police investigation of the Town’s
former Parks and Recreation Department Athletic Director David Smith; and the
Council discussed economic development incentives that may be offered to a
specific company that may eventually locate a facility in Holly Springs.
-- End General Account
Action: The Council approved a motion to return to
Open Session.
Motion By: Dickson
Second By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous.
13.
Adjournment: There being no further business for
the evening, the Feb. 15, 2005, meeting of the Holly Springs Town Council was adjourned following a motion by Councilman Womble, second
by Councilman Dickson and a unanimous vote.
Respectfully
Submitted on
_________________________________
Addendum pages as referenced in these
minutes follow and are a part of the official record