BC 1984 02 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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496 While adequate sources of water, water treatment capacities, and wastewater treatment facilities exist for present use demands, planning for additional water sources and treatment facilities should be given a high priority. o Top priority should be given to locating, planning, developing, and implementing additional water sources. 10. To accomplish these goals, Cabarrus County needs to establish a financial plan that will result in an orderly implementaion of the planned water and sewer facilities. 11. The Study Commission appreciates the opportunity to study these issues given it by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. The specific recommendations developed by the Water and Sewer Study Commission are as follows. Cabarrus County should actively plan for the growth that is going to occur through a comprehensive land use plan, revision of zoning ordinances, and provisions to recognize higher residential densities in areas served with water and sewer facilities. The general plan for water and sewer facilities should be an integral part of the comprehensive planning approach. 0 A Capital Improvements Program (CIP) should be implemented by the County. The CIP should incorporate a continuous five year planning period with preliminary planning extending for a continuous ten year period. The phasing in the current water and sewer general plan should be integrated and represented in the CIP. Although the Study Commission does not have adequate expertise to devise such a plan, an example is provided as evidence of its thinking on this planning issue. (See Appendix A) e The County should devise a financial plan that would provide for the implementation of the water and sewer component of the CIP on a yearly basis. Various funding options are available, but the Study Commission feels that at a minimum the County should establish a capital fund for this purpose. The capital fund could be established by earmarking an additional tax assessment for this purpose, by setting aside some portion of the 1/2¢ increase in the sales tax, other options, or some combination of funding options. The County should initiate discussions with other water and sewer districts within the county for the purpose of coordinating water and sewer planning efforts for the entire county. This planning process should recognize the need to utilize to the maximum extent possible the expertise in the provision of these services that already exists within the county. The County should take steps to become actively involved in a cooperative fashion with the City of Concord on the Coddle Creek reservoir project and with the City of Mt. Pleasant on the Bull Run reservoir project. In addition, Cabarrus County should request the assistance of the Corps of Engineers in prioritizing the water supply needs in the county. Assuring an adequate supply of water for the future should be viewed as a high priority item. The County should take the lead in planning, funding, and implementing interconnections among existing water supplies as well as among proposed water supplies. The County contribution of $1,500,000 to the financial package for Phase I water line extensions should be funded by the unearmarked portion of the 1/2¢ sales tax increase using those monies taken in from that source during the present and the next fiscal years.