Setting the Record Straight

The site selection process was severely flawed.

The Hazen and Sawyer consultants produced several studies that ranked 29 potential locations for the sewage plant. Every ranking we have reviewed clearly showed the New Hill site was ranked only 4th at best. The New Hill site has always been ranked behind the sites on Progress Energy property.

Reference Technical Memorandum 8.0, which can be viewed at WesternWakePartners.org

TM 8.0 was prepared as part of the initial work by the partners with Wake County as the lead agency. At the conclusion of that work, the current project partners (Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville) entered into a new agreement to implement the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities. At that time, Holly Springs decided not to send wastewater to the new water reclamation facility for treatment. Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville reviewed TM 8.0 and selected three sites for detailed analysis. Sites located south and east of U.S. 1 were eliminated from further consideration since Holly Springs changed the way it wanted to participate in the project. Then, Site C (14) was identified as the southernmost location to be considered for the final evaluation, and the two additional sites were located north of Site 14.

The New Hill Community Association requested the names of the individuals from Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville who performed this review of TM 8.0 and selected three sites for detailed analysis. This is the response we received:

The names that you have requested are:

Tim Donnelly for the Town of Apex, myself for the Town of Cary, Blake Mills for the Town of Morrisville, Stephanie Sudano for the Town of Holly Springs, all of whom were designated by their respective town managers as their town representatives to the Technical Advisory Committee for the Western Wake Partners.

Robert K. (Kim) Fisher, P.E. Director of Public Works and Utilities

Even with the studies produced by the consultants, costing the citizens of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville several hundred thousand dollars, the final site selection ended up being made by bureaucrats from each of the towns.

The study was flawed because the Partners did not follow their own criteria for selecting a site for the sewage plant. This information is also posted at WesternWakePartners.org

Subject: Re: Land Site
To: (name removed to protect privacy)
Cc: Kim.Fisher@TownofCary.org
From: Leila.Goodwin@TownofCary.org
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:38:56 -0400


When choosing a site for a plant, the Project Partners (Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville) must find a solution that best balances many - and sometimes competing - goals. These include: Social and Cultural Factors
The plant must be located on a site that protects citizens' quality of life. This means keeping the plant as far away as possible from homes, parks, churches, playgrounds, and other areas important to the people of the community.

Leila R. Goodwin, PE Water Resources Manager

Since the New Hill Baptist Church and a playground is across the street from the proposed site; the First Baptist Church of New Hill adjoins the proposed site; there are two nursing homes within one quarter of a mile of the proposed site; and there are many residencies that adjoin the proposed site; the proposed site is next to a historical district; it is apparent Ms. Goodwin and the Partners did not evaluate Social and Cultural Factors.

Cary Town Commissioner Jennifer Robinson admits in an email dated June 26, 2005:

First, historical or societal issues were not considered when the site selection process was undertaken. For that, I am very sorry. I was disappointed when I learned that the preferred site impacted the community as it does. It should have been a factor as important as meeting the standards of the Interbasin Transfer. Had that been a factor and only sites on the other side of U.S. 1 been considered, the towns involved would have floated bond referendums for larger amounts.

In this email, Ms. Robinson apologized for chastising the residents from New Hill, then admits she did not realize putting a sewage plant in the middle of a community would impact that community. Does she actually believe you can put a sewage plant any where you wish and the people of that community will not be impacted?

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