DATE: May 17, 2017
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
SUBJECT:
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Consideration of Resolution 2017-46, Resolution of Partnership With Williamson County Schools To Extend Sanitary Sewer Service To The Henpeck Lane School Site.
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Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning a potential agreement with the Williamson County Schools to share the cost of extending sanitary sewer services to both the existing Oak View Elementary School and a to-be-constructed middle school along Henpeck Lane.
Background
Oak View Elementary School, located on Henpeck Lane, was constructed in 1993. Oak View School is located just outside of the Franklin’s city limits and is served by a small onsite sanitary sewer system or “package plant.” In addition to the Oak View Elementary site, the Williamson County Schools owns approximately 35 acres of land that has been identified as a potential site for a new middle school (grades 6th through 8th). The new middle school, which is expected to open in the fall of 2020, is estimated to cost approximately $40 million and would house approximately 900 students.
In order to make this site viable, it is necessary to extend the City of Franklin’s sanitary sewer services to this site. Both the new middle school and Oak View Elementary would be placed on the City’s sanitary sewer system. The project generally includes a 3,800 linear foot extension of a 12” gravity sanitary sewer main from the Five Mile Interceptor located in the Goose Creek Sanitary Sewer Basin. The proposed sewer main will be installed in the Ellington Park Subdivision and extended to the west across Lewisburg Pike to the Oak View Elementary Property line. The estimated cost for the extension of the sanitary sewer line extension is $2.36 million ($2.1 million for construction, $260,000 for design and land costs). Attached is a diagram of the proposed sanitary sewer line extension and the cost opinion developed by the City of Franklin’s Engineering Department. The estimated timeframe to complete this project is approximately 36 months.
The extension of this sanitary sewer line could open a limited area for future development. Attached is a description of the potential development that could be served by the extension of sanitary sewer. Most of the area impacted consists of existing county subdivisions that are currently served by septic systems.
Financial Impact
The estimated project cost of $2.36 million is proposed to be shared equally by Williamson County Schools and the City of Franklin. The City’s portion of the project expense ($1.18 million) would come from the City’s County Facilities Tax fund. Williamson County collects an Adequate Facilities Tax on new development throughout the county. By state law, a portion of these proceeds is distributed to incorporated cities within the county. In the past, the City of Franklin has used these funds to aid in infrastructure projects around or related to school facilities. In recent years, projects using County Facilities Tax include Wilson Pike/McEwen improvements ($1.4 million), Hillsboro Road Improvements ($1 million), and the Williamson County Enrichment Center ($500,000). The balance within the County Facilities fund is projected to be $3.8 million for the beginning of FY18.
Recommendation
Staff recommends entering into an agreement with Williamson County Schools to extend sanitary sewer service to Oak View Elementary School and to the site of a to-be-constructed middle school located on Henpeck Lane. This arrangement would include the following components:
• Williamson County Schools and the City of Franklin will share equally the full costs of the project.
• The sanitary sewer extension project will be a City of Franklin project to facilitate design and property acquisition necessary for its timely completion.
• The impacted, county-owned property will be annexed into the City of Franklin prior to the completion of the project.
• The Williamson County Schools will provide the City with easements needed to extend sanitary sewer to other undeveloped property within the area.