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CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

CAMDEN COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

 

Joint Workshop

October 29, 2003

6:00 PM

Courthouse Complex

Senior Center Conference Room

 

MINUTES

 

The joint workshop of the Camden County Board of Commissioners and Camden County Planning Board was held Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at the Senior Center Conference Room, Courthouse Complex at 6:00 P.M.  The following members were present:

 

Chairman Jeffrey B. Jennings

Vice Chairman Samuel K. Shaw, Sr.

Commissioner J.C. Rountree, Melvin Jeralds, Clayton Riggs

Interim County Manager Mary Rhodes

Clerk to the Board Ava Murgia

 

Planning Board members:

 

Chairman James Burnham

Vice Chairman Rodney Needham

Members Calvin Leary, Gladys Banks, Juanita Staples and Terri Griffin

 

Bob Woodrow was absent.

 

Also present was Dave Parks, Permit Officer.

 

Chairman Jennings reconvened the meeting and asked the Planning Board to call their meeting to order.

 

Planning Board Chairman Burnham called the Planning Board to order.

 

Board of Education Chairman Wayne White called the meeting out of recess.

 

Chairman Jennings stated the purpose of the workshop was to receive comments from the technical review staff regarding the developmental impact on the infrastructure of Camden County.

 

Consideration of Agenda

 

Commissioner Rountree made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.

 

Technical Review Staff

 

South Mills Water Association (SMWA) – Joe Jackson

Mr. Jackson stated that the SMWA is presently operating at 40% capacity and cannot grow because of discharge problems unless a water plant is built and they have no intentions of building a water plant.  There has been an increase in customer base of 16.9% over five (5) years with the majority of the increase in the last two (2) years; an increase of 7.4% of water sold over five (5) years.  The heaviest month of usage was 385,000 gallons per day.  At the present time the SMWA is capable of servicing a minimum of 555 users and a maximum of 1250 users.  Capacity limits are set by Waste Water Discharge and the Waste Water Division has informed them that they cannot grow any larger than it is right now because of discharge limits. The six hundred (600) gallons per minute capacity for twenty one (21) hours a day is what SMWA’s capability will be forever.  Currently there is 200,000 gallons dedicated from SCWSD and cannot get to South Mills unless increase in water main size and installation of a pump station.  SMWA draws water from Camden on the existing six (6) inch line during flushing to maintain pressure.  Within eight (8) to ten (10) years at the present growth, the SMWA will be at maximum capacity.  SMWA maintains daily 44 to 48 psi at the end of the line, which ends at the welcome center.

 

South Camden Water and Sewer District (SCWSD) – David Credle

David Credle stated the maximum capacity per day is 720,000 gallons, minus two (2) hours for start-up and shutdown (660,000); minus 20% the state requires water systems to start design work to increase production at 80% of plant capacity for a total of 528,000 gallon capacity.  SCWSD’s average water use per day is 225,000 gallons for Camden with an additional 200,000 for Currituck County per day for a daily production of 425,000 gallons.  SCWSD would feel the impact if they were to provide South Mills 200,000 gallons per day, and would have to look at ways to increase production or decrease water sold to Currituck County.  At the present time there are 1593 active services and 169 inactive Services; 3 Bulk (Currituck, River Bridge Apartments, SMWA) users; 200 dry taps; 50 services to be installed and at the present time the SCWSD can provide service to an additional 500 users.  Grant monies that have been applied for have been turned down by the State Revolving Fund Grant and there are no plans for expansion.

 

Eric Weatherly, Hobbs Upchurch, gave an overview on the status of the sewer system which should be on line in the core area by summer 2005.

 

Camden County School System – Dr. John Dunn – Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Dunn stated the school figures show Grandy exceeds capacity by 33 students; 53 High School students before the high school reaches capacity.  There has been a 14% growth since the beginning of last school year to the beginning of this school year.  Dr. Dunn stated there are plans to enlarge Grandy School; next year the schools can accommodate the same growth but a new elementary must be built by 2005.  There are currently no plans to expand the high school.

 

 

Camden County School System – Alvin Shaw -Transportation Director

Alvin Shaw asked the Commissioners before they approve new development, to let the applicants know that there is no door-to-door pickup and due to increase of students, the seating capacity of the buses are increasing, which is more costly.  Cul-de-sacs need to be larger for the turning of the sixty four (64) passenger school buses.  Three (3) buses have been added in the last two (2) years which is at capacity now and the last new bus was in 1998 at a 160,000 mile replacement.

 

South Mills Fire Department (SMFD) – Kenny Swinson

Kenny Swinson stated there are presently twenty (20) volunteer firefighters with two (2) engines, a tanker and brush truck with an average of 80-100 calls per year.  SMFD has decreased from twenty eight (28) firefighters to twenty (20).  It has been hard to maintain volunteer membership and even had to get the preacher to join just to pass the state fire inspection.  The tanker is twenty five (25) years old and rusted.  The brush truck is thirty (30) years old and was donated by Pasquotank.  One (1) Engine is eleven (11) years old and the other is a three (3) year old engine, which is financed.  With current fire tax the SMFD can only afford to finance one (1) new fire truck.  Fire station is not located where it is needed and they are currently looking for three (3) to four (4) acres of land to build a new fire station in the middle of the fire district.  The hydrants will not supply enough water to fight a fire for new development.  County needs to raise the fire tax to 8 cents and then to 10 cents.  Sooner or later firefighters will have to be paid in Camden County.  County needs volunteer rescue squad and cannot continue to build on the northern end of the county without taking into consideration emergency services, or worry how to put a fire out. Right now an estimated 9,600 cars a day utilize highway 17 and when the expansion is complete it is estimated at 19,600 cars a day.  Presently 34% of calls are car accidents.

 

Albemarle Regional Health (ARH)  – Tim Peoples

Tim Peoples stated that in the year 2001, 242 applications were received from Camden County; 2002 – 307 applications and 2003 – 279 applications with two (2) months left and there are at least 200 in his office to be scheduled.  Mr. Peoples requested any help with the water and sewer due to the small lots.

 

South Camden Fire Department (SCFD) – Robbie Tarkington

Robbie Tarkington stated plans for the next five (5) years include building a new fire station in Shiloh, replace trucks and get a rescue pumper.  The department consists of forty eight (48) members; 12 Shiloh – 36 Camden and SCFD will have to look for ladder truck in the next five (5) years.  Currently SCFD uses Elizabeth City for ladder truck, if it is running.  Calls answered in 2000-62; 2001-53; 2002-80; 2003-75.  Mr. Tarkington stated the fire tax will have to be increased.

 

Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Perry stated his office needs four (4) more Deputies and when transport is needed to a mental facility, it ties the Deputy up for eight (8) hours.  There is no Deputy full time at the satellite office.  Sheriff Perry stated there were 5,891 calls in 2002; average daily calls of 19.6l.  The coverage provided by the Sheriff’s department is in twelve (12) hours shifts with one (1) Deputy for days, two (2) for nights, one (1) for weekend days; two (2) for weekend nights.  Sheriff Perry stated his office needs three (3) Deputies to cover the day shift now because when the day Deputy receives a dangerous call, he has to request mutual aid from Pasquotank County or Elizabeth City and if the Deputy has a mental transport, another Deputy has to be called to work causing overtime.  The sheriff’s office currently has five (5) road Deputies; the other four (4) Deputies are assigned administrative duties and special investigative duties.  Sheriff Perry stated with four hundred ninety (490) lots presently approved, this will create at least twelve hundred (1200) more residents, placing the current population at eight thousand four hundred (8,400).  The new subdivisions have created more calls such as alarm responses, mental patients transport, traffic in the county is heavier; the court calendar is heavier; having criminal court three times a month instead of twice a month.  Sheriff Perry stated if more Deputies are hired and his needs met, then his office could handle new development in Camden County.

 

The Planning Board adjourned their meeting and the Board of Education adjourned their meeting.

 

Closed Session

 

Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to go into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) for the purpose of consultation with attorney and pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) for the purpose of discussing personnel.  The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioners entered closed session at 7:48 P.M.

 

There being no further matters to come before the County Commissioners in closed session at this time, Commissioner Rountree made a motion to go out of closed session. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioners re-entered the regular session at 8:10 PM.

 

Amendment to the Agenda

 

Commissioner Riggs made a motion to amend the agenda to enter into close session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioners entered closed session at 8:12 PM.

 

There being no further matters to come before the County Commissioners in closed session at this time, Commissioner Riggs made a motion to go out of closed session. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioner re-entered regular session at 8:15 PM.

 

Amendment to the Agenda

 

Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to amend the agenda to enter into close session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) for the purpose of consulting with an attorney. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioners entered closed session at 8:25 PM.

 

There being no further matters to come before the County Commissioners in closed session at this time, Commissioner Riggs made a motion to go out of closed session. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The Commissioner re-entered regular session at 8:28 PM.

 

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further items to come before the Board, Commissioner Shaw made a motion to adjourn. The motion passed with Commissioners Rountree, Jeralds, Shaw, Riggs and Chairman Jennings voting aye; no Commissioner not voting; no Commissioner voting no; and no Commissioner absent.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.

 

 

                                                            _____________________________

                                                            Jeffrey B. Jennings, Chairman

                                                            Camden County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

_________________________

Ava Murgia

Clerk to the Board