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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 11, 2005 Work Session 058 A Worksession of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors was held on Thursday, August 11, 2005, at 12:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice-Chairman Gary W. Dove; Bill M. Ewing; Gene E. Fisher; Gina A. Forrester; Lynda 1. Tyler; and Barbara E. Van Osten OTHERS PRESENT Frederick- Winchester Service Authority Executive Director Jesse Moffett; Frederick County Sanitation Authority Director Wellington Jones; Winchester Mayor Liz Minor; City Council President Charley Gaynor; James R. Wilkins, III; Bob Carpenter; John B. Schroth; City of Winchester Director of Utilities Frank Sanders; Darwin S. Braden; James T. Anderson; County Administrator John R. Riley, Jr.; Assistant County Administrator Kris C. Tierney; Planning Director Eric Lawrence; Deputy Planning Director Mike Ruddy; Senior Planner Susan Eddy; Winchester City Manager Ed Daley; Robert Brent; DEQ; Planning Commission Chairman Chuck DeHaven; Jim Lawrence, Opequon Watershed. Chairman Shickle called the worksession to order. He then turned the presentation over to FWSA Executive Director Jesse Moffett and Mr. Bob Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter thanked the County and City for the opportunity to meet and discuss these issues. He stated that both bodies have a "huge" challenge in front of them as they try to addrcss these standards. Dircctor Moffett gave a brief presentation on the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Nutrient Reduction Efforts. He advised that the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement was the driving force behind these efforts. He stated that the Regulation for Nutrient Enriched Waters and Dischargers within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed will become effective in 2010. Under these new regulations any expansion or construction of a new plant would have to meet "limits of technology". As an aside, he informed the group that the Service Authority was in the process of designing a new facility for Parkins Mill. Dircctor Moffett then reviewed the Water Quality Management Planning Regulations, which assign nutrient load limits to each facility, establishcs a process for purchasing credits from other Minute Book Number 31 Board of Supervisors Worksession of 08/11/05 with Winchester City Council, and Frederick-Winchester Service Authority on Nutrient Loading 059 plans to supplement local caps, and sets limits on plant capacity. He noted that the Opequon facility is allocated 102,336 pounds per year and Parkins Mill is allocated 36,547 pounds per year and these allocations cannot be exceeded. At present, there is 1.8 million gallons of capacity available at the two facilities. Director Moffett reviewed the dilemmas facing the region. They include: Allocation is not adequate to meet the future needs of the area. New technology is expensive. The vision of constructing a north plant is gone because there is no waste load allocation. Capacity threshold - needs versus affordability. Director Moffett concluded by saying that we must recognize that there is a capacity limit, everyone is part of the problem, but everyone can also benefit from alternative discharge methods, etc. and consensus and cooperation on this issue is essential. Mr. Carpenter asked Director Moffett how long it would be before the two plants hit their capacity. Director Moffett responded five to seven years. Mr. Carpenter stated that he was most concerned that the community could not go forward without a plan. He stated that a plan and community could not be built on a five-year horizon, but instead should look 30-50 years out, which he believed to be in the County's best interest. Supervisor Van Osten asked the representative from the Department of Environmental Quality about the reuse potential of the treated water for irrigation. Robert Brent, DEQ, responded that reuse of this water had not been mentioned in the discussions of these regulations. Supervisor Tyler asked who would take on the task of looking at options. Mr. Carpenter responded that it was his hope the Service Authority would empower Director Moffett and another person to research possible viable options. Chairman Shickle suggested that Mr. Moffett pull out and bulletize items that are decision points for both governing bodies to consider. He then asked if the Sanitation Authority had any comments on this item. Director Jones advised that non-point source constituted less than 25% ofthe nutrients in the Minute Book Number 31 Board of Supervisors Worksession of08/11!05 with Winchester City Council, and Frederick-Winchester Service Authority on Nutrient Loading :J60 streams. These came primarily from agricultural uses and run-off. He stated that the Sanitation Authority recognizes what the County is up against, but we can only deal with point source because we have no jurisdiction in the other areas. With regard to water reuse, it can only be talked about until the State and DEQ develop some regulations. Chairman Shickle asked Mr. Brent what the most effective way for the bodies to voice their concerns to DEQ would be. Mr. Brent responded that there was still an open comment period on nutrient loading. Chairman Shickle asked the County Administrator, Frederick-Winchester Service Authority, and Frederick County Sanitation Authority to send information to the Department of Environmental Quality. The deadline to submit is August 25,2005. Chairman Shickle asked about approval to reuse water versus purchasing credits. Mr. Brent responded that the harder part would be to get approval to reuse the water. Supervisor Van Osten asked what role the Health Department would play in this. Mr. Carpenter responded that the Service Authority would research that issue. Mr. Jim Lawrence, Opequon Watershed, briefly the Total Maximum Daily Load process and stated that he would like to meet with the City and County to review the TMDL implementation program. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1 :45 P.M. " ~~ :fubri R. Riley r. Clerk, Board of Supervisors '\L--~___Q LhJ;:___Q~ Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: s erk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 31 Board of Supervisors Worksession of 08/11/05 with Winchester City Council, and Frederick-Winchester Service Authority on Nutrient Loading