The Handy Sanitary District is in
the process of designing and implementing a regional sewer system to serve the
communities around
This “fact sheet” is intended to address the questions which Handy has been asked with regard to this project and provide factual answers thereto. In addition, questions regarding financial aid for connection fees have been raised and this mailing also includes applications for financial aid consideration to address those concerns.
Finally, some residents have
raised the question of “What if I do not qualify for financial aid but still
find the cost of connection to be a burden, what can I do?” If you believe this project presents a
financial hardship and that you do not qualify for financial aid in the manner
attached hereto, please contact Handy Sanitary District individually for a
case-by-case determination of how your needs can be addressed. Please direct individual questions regarding
financial aid to Mrs. Lisa Hedrick, Office Manager at (336) 859-2553, by
We sincerely appreciate your
interest in this project and look forward to implementing this much needed
improvement to our region of
Tim Loflin
Chairman, Handy Sanitary District Board of Directors
1. What is Handy Sanitary District?
Handy
Sanitary District (HSD) was incorporated on
2. Who do they answer to?
HSD must
answer to the residents within the District. Much like a county or municipality, all financial and regulatory
requirements must be fulfilled by HSD in order to maintain compliance with
state and federal laws. The HSD Board of
Commissioners holds an official Board meeting on the second Thursday of every
month at
3. How are Board members selected?
Board members are elected by a general election held every two years. Each member on the HSD Board serves a term of four years. Elections are staggered so that no more than three seats are up for election.
4. Can I vote for them?
Any registered voter within the boundaries of the District can vote for candidates of the HSD Board of Commissioners.
5. How do I register to vote?
Any resident living within the boundaries of the HSD can register with the Montgomery/Davidson County Board of Elections office to be able to vote for candidates of the HSD Board of Commissioners.
6. Can I serve on the Board?
Any registered voter living within the boundaries of the HSD can run for election to the Board of Commissioners.
7. Why was Handy Sanitary District formed?
HSD was formed to preserve
and promote the public health of the residents in southern Davidson and
northwestern
8. Why was the sewer project begun?
Nearly
10 years ago, the concept of providing public sewer to
9. Why does the project begin in the
Residents in the
10. Where
and how has concern been reported about
“
“The Intensive Survey Unit and
Fayetteville Regional Office of DWQ conducted an intensive water quality survey
of
11. Describe the history of the sewer project.
The concept of providing
public sewer to
12. Why is Handy proposing the service as opposed to
HSD provides
public water service to 2,200 residences at
13. Wouldn’t it have been cheaper for the county to
run sewer up around the lake, since we already pay taxes to them for that
purpose?
No. The
jurisdictional boundary of the HSD overlaps portions of Davidson and
14. If there are concerns about discharge of sewage into
the lake, why doesn’t the
The Montgomery County Health Department regulates the
issuance of septic system permits, repair permits, and permit denials through
field inspection of all proposed septic system locations. As part of the justification for this
project, the Montgomery County Health Department has investigated their records
of septic tank permit repairs and denials in the
15. What type of sewer system is proposed?
A “low-pressure” wastewater collection system is proposed
for the Badin Lake Regional Sewer Project. Many of the homes are below the road elevation and the severely sloping
topography around the lake eliminates the cost-effectiveness of a conventional
gravity collection system.
16. How does it work?
Low-pressure sewer systems
utilize collection tanks at individual residences for wastewater
collection. A grinder pump located in
this tank pumps wastewater away from the home, up any intermediate hills to
discharge at a centralized collection pump station. These pump stations will transfer wastewater
to
17. What is the estimated
cost of the project and the source of the cost estimates?
The estimated cost of the Badin Lake Regional Sewer Project is $13.8 million. This cost estimate is based on the engineer’s estimate of total probable project costs.
18. How is the project proposed to be financed?
The following provides a summary of the financing components: $3.0 million from Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), $7.0 million from NCDENR-Construction Grants & Loans, $2.2 million from customer tap-on fees, and $1.6 million from private market financing.
19. Who will be served by the project?
Existing HSD water customers
in the communities at
Woodland Estates and
20. How were these customers selected?
Customers at
21. Why is mandatory connection required?
Mandatory connection is required to make this project financially feasible for customers located in the areas designated for public sewer service. In addition, the CWMTF grant requires mandatory connection to the new sewer system in order to assure the maximum environmental benefit from the construction of this project.
22. What impact does the N.C. General Assembly’s
legislation have on mandatory connection?
In the North
Carolina General Assembly’s 2005 session, Senate Bill 1594 was passed to
clarify the authority of Sanitary Districts to require connections to water and
sewer systems. This bill was recommended
by the Environmental Review Commission and grants Sanitary Districts the same powers
to enforce mandatory connection as a municipality, county, water/sewer
authority, and metropolitan sewerage district. This bill became effective
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN
ACT TO Amend the authority of SANITARY DISTRICTS to require connections to
water and sewer systems, as recommended by the environmental review commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION
1.
G.S. 130A‑55 reads as rewritten:
§ 130A-55. Corporate
Powers.
“A sanitary district board
shall be a body politic and corporate and may sue and be sued in matters
relating to the sanitary district. Notwithstanding any limitation in the
petition under G.S. 130A‑48, but subject to the provisions of
G.S. 130A‑55(17)e, each sanitary district
may exercise all of the powers granted to sanitary districts by this Article.
In addition, the sanitary district board shall have the following powers:
…
(16)
To adopt rules for the promotion and protection of the public health and for
these purposes to possess the following powers:
To require the owners of
developed property on which there are situated one or more residential dwelling
units or commercial establishments located within the jurisdiction of the
district and within a reasonable distance of any waterline or sewer collection
line owned, leased as lessee, or operated by the district to connect the
property with the waterline, sewer connection line, or both and fix charges for
the connections. The power granted by this subdivision may be exercised by a
district only to the extent that the service, whether water, sewer, or a
combination thereof, to be provided by the district is not then being provided
to the improved property by any other political subdivision or by a public
utility regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission pursuant to
Chapter 62 of the General Statutes. In the case of improved property that would
qualify for the issuance of a building permit for the construction of one or
more residential dwelling units or commercial establishments and where the
district has installed water or sewer lines or a combination thereof directly
available to the property, the district may require payment of a periodic
availability charge, not to exceed the minimum periodic service charge for
properties that are connected.
23. Who is required to connect?
All existing
HSD water customers in the communities at
24. What is the source of the 1,000-feet limit for
mandatory connection to apply?
The designation of a 1,000-feet limitation to the mandatory connection policy is established to reflect the general policy adopted by other municipalities, counties, water/sewer authorities, and metropolitan sewerage districts.
25. If I own
multiple lots at
Only one sewer tap fee will be charged per residence at
26. Describe the tap-on fee costs and their history.
In the
initial sign-up period offered by HSD, tap-on fee was $1,500 including the
pump, payable in two installments of $750 each. This offer of $1,500, including the pump, continued until
27. What is the estimated monthly cost of sewer
service and how is it calculated?
The monthly sewer bill is estimated to be $50 to $54 for customers that use approximately 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water monthly. The monthly sewer bill estimate is calculated by the following rates: $30.00 flat rate plus $6.35 per 1,000 gallons of metered water consumption. The monthly sewer charge is billed at 100% of the metered water consumption. Final rates will be dependent upon final project costs.
28. What role does the
The
29. Can the
No. HSD has the authority to establish tap-on fees.
30. Can the
No. HSD has the authority to establish monthly
service fees.
31. What can I do if I cannot afford the new sewer tap-on fees?
Financial aid
will be available for those residents who qualify under federal guidelines for
“low to moderate income status.” Attached to this fact sheet are forms to apply for financial aid and
tables that specify household income thresholds for financial aid
qualifications. To apply for financial
aid, the attached forms must be completed, signed, and returned to the HSD
headquarter office in
32. Why is my sewer bill going to cost more than the sewer
bill of someone who lives in
33. What costs should a homeowner expect in addition to tap-on and monthly usage fees?
The homeowner
will have to hire a plumber to connect the household plumbing to the new
collection tank. The homeowner will have
to hire an electrician to connect the pump control panel to the household
breaker panel. These actions will be
regulated respectively by the
34. What will I be required to do with my current
septic tank? Can I continue to use my
septic tank even after I tap on? If so,
how long?
This project will require all homes in the Phase 1 sewer service area to connect to the new sewer system. HSD will require a Certificate of Sewer Separation from the plumber that makes the connection between household plumbing and the collection tank. No HSD customers will be allowed to maintain use of their existing septic systems after construction of the project is completed. However, although Montgomery County Environmental Health does recommend it, they do not require the filling of abandoned septic systems.
35. Why did the Clean Water Management Trust Fund
contribute to this project?
The goals and objectives of the
Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) are to fund projects that promote and
enhance the quality of the surface waters of the State. In their independent evaluation of this
project, the CWMTF staff and Board determined that the Badin Lake Regional
Sewer Project met the goals and objectives of the CWMTF.
36. Please
outline the CWMTF grant process?
A CWMTF grant application is
subjected to a competitive review at the staff and board level where
recommendations are made for project selection and funding. The Clean Water Management Trust Fund is
comprised of a 21-member, independent, Board of Trustees that has full
responsibility over the allocation of moneys from the Fund. The CWMTF is funded by direct appropriations
from the N.C. General Assembly through the biennial budget process.
37. Was the CWMTF misled by pictures taken around
the lake?
No. At the request of CWMTF, a
series of pictures was taken around the northern shoreline of
38. Is Handy Sanitary District making a profit from
this project?
No. The sewer fees established by Handy Sanitary District are intended to fund Phase 1 of the Badin Lake Regional Sewer Project. These fees will cover the costs to construct, operate and maintain the new sewer system. Annual sewer treatment costs, operation and maintenance costs, and capital reserve funds are attributed to the established sewer fees. Annual financial statements/audits are reviewed by the North Carolina Local Government Commission.
39. Will the residents along
No. The Phase 1 design includes pressurized force
mains along
40. What is the current status of the project and
its funding?
All funding sources, consisting of the CWMTF, NCDENR-Construction Grants & Loans, and private placement funding, were fully investigated and the availability of these funds verified prior to initiating project design. Currently, the process consists of the acquisition of these funds whose status is summarized as follows:
The CWMTF awarded HSD with a $3.0 million grant in October of 2005. The application package for the $7.0 million loan from NCDENR-Construction Grants & Loans will be submitted in late 2006. The review and approval process for this loan will take approximately 90-120 days. The collection of customer tap-on fees is ongoing. The remaining funds will be private market loan and will be obtained before construction begins.
The design phase of this project is complete and has been submitted for permitting by the appropriate reviewing agencies. Environmental and technical review by the lead review agency will be completed in late 2006 to early 2007.
41. When and how will the system be constructed?
It is anticipated that a minimum of four or more contracts will be awarded for the following components in Phase 1 of the Badin Lake Regional Sewer Project: primary sewer forcemain, low-pressure collection system, collection pump stations, and individual pumps/collection tanks.
Once this project has received all applicable permits from the reviewing agencies (+/- March 2007), the projects will be advertised, competitive bids received, and contracts awarded. Construction is anticipated to take 18-20 months with implementation of service projected to be late 2008 to mid 2009.
42. Who will
maintain the system and pumps after installation?
Handy Sanitary District will maintain all appurtenances related to the sewer system after construction is completed and the project is in operation. This policy will apply to normal usage of the system. Negligence by the homeowner may result in additional charges.
43. If I
currently use a well for water service and I am located within the
jurisdictional boundary of Handy Sanitary District, can I connect to the new
sewer system and continue to use my well?
Yes. If you connect to the new sewer system, a meter must be installed on the homeowner’s well to provide flow information for sewer billing purposes. The meter installation will be charged to the homeowner at HSD’sprevailing rate for a new water meter installation. Sewer customers using private wells will not be charged for water consumption, only sewer usage.
44. If I use my
well for irrigation, can I continue to use my well for this purpose?
Yes. Irrigation wells will be allowed to continue service.
45. Who do I
call if I have questions that aren’t addressed on this fact sheet?
If you have questions that aren’t addressed on this fact sheet, you can contact Mr. Fred Hobbs, P.E., President of Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, P.A. at (910) 692-5616 or by email at f.hobbs@hobbsupchurch.com
PRE-APPLICATION FORM FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HANDY SANITARY DISTRICT
This form is intended to collect
information from “property owners” who believe they are eligible for sewer
connection financial assistance because their income status is at or below low
to moderate income levels as determined by the Federal Department of Housing
and Urban Development. This form should be completed by “property owners” only,
and returned to the following address, by
Handy Sanitary
District
Attn: Lisa Hedrick,
Office Manager
In order to qualify as low to moderate income, you must have
a Gross Annual Household Income less than
or equal tothe following federally-established income levels:
| Number of Members Residing in Household | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Gross Annual Household Income | $31,450 | $35,900 | $40,400 | $44,900 | $48,500 | $52,100 | $55,700 | $59,250 |
Please complete the following information for all residents
in your household:
| Name of
Household Member | Gross Annual
Income | Social Security
Number | Source of Income | Age | Sex |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
I, as the owner of this
property, certify that the information provided in this pre-application form is
accurate and correct to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that any deliberate
misrepresentation of the information provided in this form may disqualify my
pre-application from being considered for assistance under this program. Please ensure that all persons residing in this household are listed on the application and that all
requested gross incomes have been reflected. Please note that all information contained in this pre-application will
remain confidential. Also, please note
that all incomes and information reflected will need to be verified if your
pre-application is selected for the sewer connection financial aid program
through Handy Sanitary District.
Signature of Property Owner
Printed Name of Property Owner
Mailing Address
Physical Address (if different
than mailing address)
Phone Number to contact regarding this application