Windsor Oaks Home Association WaterSewer Town Meeting October 15, 2003

1
Windsor Oaks Home Association Water/Sewer Town
Meeting October 15, 2003
2
Water Wastewater Systems Extension and
Connection Policy 23

• A) Town Council approved new utility extension
  policy which became effective July 1, 2003.
• B) 13.5 million dollars were allocated to fund
  utility extension projects for newly annexed
  areas.
• C) The major points of new policy were included
  in the welcome letter sent out in May 2003.

3
Benefits of Policy 23

• Voluntary
• Petition Process

4
Benefits of Policy 23

• WOHA Residents pay only development fees
• Town assumes all other costs
• Assessment/Connection fees have been eliminated
  for water and sewer extensions, which lowed our
  involuntary annexation costs.

5
Participation Levels

• Policy 23 recommends 50 however WOHA offers an
  unique situation with Heater Utilities (existing
  network of water mains cannot be shared).

6
Participation Levels

• 60 or less gt Engineering will not recommend to
  TOC in favor of providing utility service.
• 60 to 75 gt Engineering will report to TOC
  that this is marginal
• 75 or greater gt Engineering will recommend to
  TOC
• Bottom Line Town Council decides if petition is
  approved.

7
Petition Process

• A petition must be received to initiate the
  water/sewer improvement project.
• Both Water and Sewer have to be requested.
• The petition must be signed by WOHA residents
  along the proposed water and sewer alignment.

8
Petition Process

• The majority of WOHA owners must achieve the
  participation level to trigger municipal water
  and sewer service.
• The petitioning area must extend to the
  existing/proposed Town utility mains.
• Vacant property is not eligible.

9
Advantages of Participation

• Utility Connection Charges are waived for
  petitioning residents
• Municipal connections (taps) are installed during
  construction
• Service disruptions due to power failures will be
  eliminated.
• Potential Homeowners Insurance reduction
• Planned Fire Hydrants will be located
  approximately 500 to 700 feet apart within the
  community.

10
Proposed Water Improvements
11
Proposed Sewer Improvements
12
Development Fees
13
Payment Options

• Option 1 Do not Sign Petition Do not pay
  (however if petition is approved, water and sewer
  service by Heater will eventually be terminated)

14
Payment Options

• Option 2 Sign petition and agree to pay in full

15
Payment Options

• Option 3 Sign petition and agree to pay in 3
  installments
• Payment 1 After Town Council has approved
  petition. This will trigger Engineering Dept. to
  issue an invoice to home owners on record.
  Payment is due 60 days upon receipt of invoice.
• Payment 2 Due prior to advertising the
  construction contract (12 to 16 months after
  payment 1).
• Payment 3 Due at completion of construction or
  activation of a utility service account with the
  Town (6 to 12 months after payment 2)
• NOTE Installment plan is interest free.

16
What will it Cost?

• Example 2,000-sq.ft home
• Water Development Fee 1,960.00
• Plumbing Permit 50.00
• Water Meter 50.00
• __________________________________
• TOTAL 2,060.00
• Plumbing Costs Vary depending upon proximity,
  obstructions, etc.
• Estimate 1K to 2K, Contact a local plumber for
  rates.

17
Payment Timeline

• Example 2,000-sq.ft home continued
• Total Cost 2060 excluding plumbing fees
• Assumptions
• WOHA owners agree to pay installments.
• TOC approval and Engineering mails invoice
  January 1, 2004
• Payment 1 due gt March 1, 2004 (653.33)
• Payment 2 due gt March 1, 2005 through August
  1, 2005 (653.33)
• Payment 3 due gt February 1, 2006 through
  August 1, 2006 (753.34)
• Private plumbing fees need to be paid in
  addition. Estimate 1K to 2K.

18
Sewer Billing (Heater vs. Cary)

• Heater Cary
• __________________________________________
• Base Charge 28.40/mo 1.97/mo
• (Zero Usage/Availability fees)
• Sewer Charge 2.79/K gal 3.18/K gal

19
Water Billing (Heater vs. Cary)

• Heater Cary
• __________________________________________
• Base Charge 12.11/mo. 1.97/mo.
• (Zero Usage/Availability fees)
• Tier 1
• 0 5,000 gallons 3.51/K gals 2.80/K gals
• Tier 2 (Average Utility User)
• 5,000 8,000 gallons 3.51/K gals 3.36/Kgals
• Tier 3
• 8,000 23,000 gallons 3.51/K gals 4.91/Kgals
• Tier 4
• Greater than 23,000 gals. 3.51/K
  gals 10.41/Kgals

20
Sample Utility Bill Savings

• Town of Cary Comparison (6,060 gals)
• Sewer
• Base Charge 1.97
• Usage (3.18/K gal) 19.27
• Total Cost 21.24
• Savings 23.90/mo. (52.9)

Town of Cary Comparison (6,060 gals) Water Base
Charge 1.97 Usage (2.80/K gal -
5,000) 14.00 Usage (3.36/K gal - 1,060)
3.56 Total Cost 19.53 Savings 13.85/mo
(41.5)
21
Water Quality

• Cary Water Quality is equal or better .
  Consistently meets the Safe Water Drinking Act of
  1996 issued by the EPA..
• Major water providers quality requirements are
  more stringent.
• Cutting edge technology for water treatment
• Ability to share water across other municipal
  systems (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill) to meet
  water needs of Cary citizens.

22
Petition Results to Date

• Hillsdale Forest 90
• 166 homes (149 signed petition)
• Wells/Septic tanks/Neighborhood early 70s
• Average Home sq. ft. 1,500 to 2,000
• Triangle Forest 80
• 49 homes (39 signed petition)
• Wells/Septic tanks/Neighborhood late 70s
• Average Home sq. ft. 2,000

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Summary

• Water Quality
• Equal or Better than existing service
• Reliability
• Service disruptions due to power loss will be
  stories of the past.
• Replace legacy sewer systems.
• Upgrade water systems where needed.

24
Summary

• Cost
• Total Cost absorbed by Town of Cary
• Sewer Water assessment/connection fees
  eliminated
• Sewer Development fees eliminated

25
Summary

• Total Cost to WOHA owners
• Initial cost reduced by 80 from 2001 quotes.
• Development fees spread out over time. Reduces
  immediate cash flow out of pocket.
• Average Monthly Savings 45 over existing Heater
  service (water/sewer).

26
Summary (Non- Petitioning WOHA owners)

• Prior to Construction
• Last chance to request service within 90 days of
  being contacted by TOC with no penalty and pay
  development fees in full.
• Request(s) after 90 days has expired will be
  subject to connection charges.

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Summary (Non- Petitioning WOHA owners)

• Construction Started
• Entire development fees and connection fees due
• Example 2000 sq ft (2,060.00) development
• Connection fees Sewer tap 1,377Street Cut 768
• Total Connection fees 2,145.00
• Total Cost 4,205 excluding plumbing fees

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Summary

• Pay me Now or Later (2,000 sq ft example)
• Petition Total Cost Out of Pocket 2,060
  excluding plumbing fees
• Non- Petition after construction 4,205 excluding
  plumbing fees
• If we delay cost will likely climb
• Influence by new town council
• Town budgets

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Next Steps

• Survey
• Seeking input from WOHA to determine whether we
  want to proceed with petition.
• Survey can be turned in beginning tonight.
• Survey can be dropped off at Marnie Brooks
  mailbox.
• Deadline for survey response is Sunday, October
  26.
• Survey results will be communicated via web page
  and hardcopy to homeowners who do not have
  internet access.

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Next Steps

• Any additional questions can be directed to
• Carlton Smith
• Marnie Brooks
• John Thomas
• Gail Boemermann