The Town of Sims is considering adopting a Utility System Development Fee. We authorized Green Engineering to conduct a study of the statutes allowing for a fee to reserve funds for needed future repairs and improvements. The study was initiated because of the Town’s need to address the impact of new growth development in and adjacent to the Town’s present corporate limits, and to assist town with new revenues essential to offset the impact of new growth on existing internal utility facilities.
The study was completed by Green Engineering at the end of December and the town is required to post it for review and comments for the next 45 days starting Wednesday, December 13. On Monday, December 11, the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to re-affirm its intent to continue with this process and to educate the citizens on the cost of building the 2 systems, the life span of critical parts of the 2 systems, and the need to reserve funds for their replacement at some point in the future. In addition, all fees must be set aside to use specifically for the purpose of maintenance or to purchase additional capacity and must be collected at a specified time when the Building permit is obtained (procedure to be determined), and a capital reserve fund may be set up by the town to collect such fees.
The resolution also calls for a 45-day public comment period and public hearing. Comments should be made in writing to town hall via email, drop box, mail or dropped off at the drive thru window during office hours. All comments will be reviewed and given to Green Engineering, Town Administration and/or the Town Attorney for evaluation. Public comment will end at 5pm on Friday, February 26. The Notice of Intent also sets a public hearing for March 8 at 6pm to discuss this fee, with a Board of Commissioners Meeting to immediately follow.
Submittals for the 45-day comment period can be made in writing by email to info@townofsimsnc.com; in writing and submitted by mail to PO Box 161, Sims, NC 27880; in writing and put in one of our two drop boxes (one to the left of the front entrance and one to the bottom right of the drive-through window); or in writing and submitted during office hours at the drive-through window. All public comments must be received by 5pm on Friday, February 26, 2021.
A copy of the report can be found here. The proposed fee schedule, which has been updated to show up to a 4 bedroom residence, can be found here. The Resolution of Intent of the Town of Sims to Develop and Adopt a System Development Fee can be found here.