§ 152.384 WARRANTIES, SURETIES, AND IMPROVEMENTS GUARANTEES.
   (A)    . Prior to the approval of the the following shall be installed or arrangement made so as to insure their installation. guarantees will not be considered for subdivisions where the utilities, curb and gutter, and final base of compacted gravel have not been installed.
   (B)   General; monuments. Monuments and markers shall be installed in accordance with the Manual of Practice for Land Surveying, published by the North Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
   (C)    .
      (1)   Grading. All shall be cleared and graded to their full width so as to provide adequate shoulders and pedestrian walkways. Finished grades, cross sections, and profile shall be considered for approval by the Town’s Public Works Director and/or consulting engineer.
      (2)   Paving. The sub-divider will be responsible for the installation of the road base and paving necessary to serve his needs and meet the requirements of this chapter. Paving and base shall be installed in accordance with NCDOT standards or town specifications, whichever is greater. The inspection of the road base and paving shall be considered for approval by the Town’s Public Works Director and/or consulting engineer.
   (D)   Curbs and gutters.
      (1)   Concrete curbs and gutters will be installed by the sub-divider in accordance with NCDOT standards or town specifications, whichever is greater.
      (2)   The inspection of the curb and gutters shall be considered for approval by the town’s Public Works Director and/or consulting engineer.
      (3)   Curbs and gutters shall be concrete combination curb and gutter.
   (E)   Storm drainage.
      (1)   Storm sewers, drains and structures shall be installed by the in accordance with NCDOT standards or town specifications, whichever is greater.
      (2)   The inspection of the storm drainage shall be considered for approval by the town’s Public Works Director and/or consulting engineer.
   (F)   Guarantees.
      (1)   General requirements.
         (a)   No shall be approved until the required have been constructed in a satisfactory manner and approved by the Town Manager or his/her designee and a financial guarantee has been posted, or, in lieu of such prior construction, the town may accept a letter of credit, a certificate of deposit, cash or certified check, or bond in the required amount. Acceptable financial guarantee formats:
            1.   Letter of credit. Must be from a financial institution located and incorporated in the State of North Carolina; must contain the specified language detailed in division (F)(1)(c) of this section.
            2.   Cash or check. Must be in the form of a certified check or United States currency. Certified checks should reflect the name of the submitting them.
            3.   Certificates of deposit. Must be in the name of and payable to the Town of Swansboro. The ’s name must be referenced on the certificate of deposit. For example: Town of Swansboro for John Doe.
            4.   Bond. Must be in the name of and payable to the Town of Swansboro. The ’s name must be referenced on the bond. For example: Town of Swansboro for John Doe.
         (b)   All financial guarantees submitted shall be accompanied by an agreement signed by the , and the Town Manager or his/ her designee. The agreement shall include a completion date, which cannot exceed two years from the application date, unless special approval has been granted by the for a completion date, which exceeds two years.
         (c)   All financial guarantees, agreements, and/or accompanying documentation must at least contain the following language: “ This instrument is for the purpose of insuring that ’s name] will complete all water facilities, sewer facilities, , sidewalks, storm drainage, and all other public as shown on the for [ name] as approved by the Swansboro and guarantee these public for a 12-month warranty after the public have been approved by the town. The issuer of this instrument of financial guarantee agrees that, upon receipt of a written certification from the Town Manger that any portion of the required has not been installed or properly maintained through the warranty period, to issue payment from this guarantee to the Town in the amount required to effect the necessary ”. Each project may vary as to the required; however, all financial guarantees must include the specified phrase.
         (d)   All financial guarantees must either be issued from a financial institution incorporated in the State of North Carolina or be redeemable at a financial institution incorporated in the State of North Carolina.
         (e)   All forms of guarantees must be approved by the Finance Director or their designee and the Town Manager or his/her designee before acceptance.
         (f)   Except for those guarantees that may be associated with that will or have been under the purview of the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA), those guarantees will meet the standards, requirements, amounts and/or processes set forth by ONWASA.
      (2)   Review of cost estimates.
         (a)   The Planning Department shall submit the plans and ’s cost estimates to the Town’s consulting engineer for review and agreement on cost estimates. The cost of Town Engineer services rendered to review cost estimates are the burden of the .
         (b)   The town’s consulting engineer shall submit detailed cost estimates changes, if any, to the Planning Department.
         (c)   The Planning Department shall then notify the applicant () of the amount needed for the financial guarantee.
         (d)   Financial guarantee estimates will be considered valid for two years and must be reviewed every two years and adjusted accordingly to reflect market values. Estimates will be determined by using the current year construction cost index or other acceptable methods as approved by town consulting engineer and Town Manager or his/her designee.
      (3)   Determination of amount of financial guarantee.
         (a)   The estimated cost of total (for the purpose of the warranty) and of the incomplete shall be determined by the town’s consulting engineer, including any appropriate contingency amounts. The engineer may, at his discretion, take into consideration any cost information submitted by the .
         (b)   The amount of the financial guarantee required shall be the total cost of all incomplete as determined by the town staff and the town’s consulting engineer plus 25%.
         (c)   The warranty period begins after the following are complete:
            1.   The ’s engineer provides a letter certifying that all have been completed in accordance with the approved plans;
            2.   The Town Manager or his/her designee has issued a letter of approval for the ; and
            3.   The warranty period financial guarantee has been submitted and accepted.
      (4)   Maintenance of financial guarantees.
         (a)   Receipt and approval. Upon receipt of financial guarantees, the Planning Department shall submit the financial guarantee to the Finance Department. The Finance Department will review, approve, record, and maintain the financial guarantee until the have been installed and accepted by the following the approval by the Town Manager or his/her designee that the are acceptable for maintenance. All original financial guarantees shall be kept in the town vault, except cash or certified checks, which shall be deposited in an account specified by the Town Finance Department.
         (b)   Extensions and condemnations. The town may condemn the financial guarantee if the are not completed within the time specified in the agreement, which was submitted with the financial guarantee. The may, however, submit a request to the town for the date of completion to be changed. The Town Manager or his/her designee will review the request and recommend to the up to a 12 month extension.
         (c)   Expiration and renewal. Approximately 45 days prior to the expiration date of the financial guarantee, the Town Finance Director shall notify the and financial guarantee company by certified mail that the town will condemn their financial guarantee if a renewed financial guarantee is not submitted prior to the expiration date. The town will send only one notification.
      (5)   Draw downs permitted.
         (a)   Draw down requests. The may request that a draw down be made on the financial guarantee by submitting a written request to the Town. The request shall include a listing of those which have been completed as of the date of request. The request shall be certified by a Professional Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer, reviewed by appropriate department heads and town consulting engineer. The cost of Town engineer services rendered to review the cost of the draw down estimates are the burden of the .
         (b)   Guarantee release. Once the town confirms the dollar amount of work that has been completed, the town shall notify the of the permitted draw down, if any. No financial guarantee may be reduced below 10% of the total cost of plus the cost of uncompleted sidewalks, until the warranty period has elapsed.
      (6)   Warranty period.
         (a)   The shall submit, in writing, a request to the Planning Department for a final inspection once all work is complete.
         (b)   Once the town has determined that all are complete, except for sidewalks, and meet approved standards, the financial guarantee may be reduced to 10% of the total cost of plus the amount needed for uncompleted sidewalks. A new estimate of the cost of the uncompleted sidewalks, plus 25% will be made at this time to insure an adequate financial guarantee and would be valid for a two-year period.
         (c)   The Planning Department shall prepare a agenda item for to be accepted within 60 days of the reduction. Once the are accepted, the 12-month warranty period shall begin.
         (d)   After the have been accepted by the , the town shall hold a financial guarantee of no less than 10% of the total cost of plus 125% of the cost of any incomplete sidewalks for a 12-month warranty period.
         (e)   During the ninth month of the warranty period, the town shall inspect the project for any deficiencies. If deficiencies are found, the town shall notify the . If the does not correct the deficiencies, the Town Manager or his/her designee may condemn the guarantee and correct the deficiency or contract to have it corrected. If the Town Manager or his/her designee decides to condemn a guarantee an may be made to the for this consideration.
         (f)   Once the Finance Director has been notified by the Planning Department that the project is complete and meets town standards, the Finance Director shall return the financial guarantee.
      (7)    subdivisions and subdivisions with .
         (a)   Inspections are required once are complete, the shall submit, in writing, a request to the town for a final inspection. The town shall inspect the . If deficiencies are found, the town shall notify the by in writing. Once the corrections have been completed, the must request an inspection by the town for verification of the satisfactory completion of the corrections. The town will notify the in writing of its findings and reduce the financial guarantee as appropriate.
      (8)   Specific warranty situations. Because the town may not accept outside the town limits, and because some subdivisions designate their as private, the following shall govern the warranty period:
         (a)   Warranty for . A financial guarantee in the amount of 10% of the total cost of is required for a 12-month period unless a homeowner’s association has been organized and documentation recorded which addresses the upkeep and maintenance of .
         (b)   Warranty for NCDOT . If a Homeowner’s Association has been organized and the documentation recorded which addresses the upkeep and maintenance of and addresses the petition process for NCDOT acceptance, no warranty period for will be required. Additionally, if the can provide documentation that the have been included on the state system; no warranty guarantee for will be required.
      (9)   Extensions for warranties. A may request only one 12 month extension for an expired warranty period to repair damaged infrastructures. There will be no warranty period for water and sewer utilities that would be warranted in another governmental jurisdiction or operated by a private entity.
      (10)   Warranties that may be associated with that will or have been under the purview of the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) will meet the standards, requirements, terms and/or processes set forth by ONWASA.
   (G)   Streetlights. Streetlights shall be installed in accordance with the Town of Swansboro’s Street Lighting Policy as well as the local power company’s standards and specifications. All lighting shall be installed prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy for any in the section. The will be responsible for the cost of installation and upkeep of all streetlights until the acceptance of public by the . The maintenance and all future related cost of streetlights in the area accepted may then be transferred by the to the town.
   (H)   Exception to sidewalk construction and guarantee.
      (1)   Construction of sidewalks in subdivisions may be delayed by the for a period not to exceed 12 months from the date of acceptance of public provided that the town holds a financial guarantee in an amount equal to the value of the uncompleted sidewalks plus 25%; however, no final inspection or certificate of occupancy for any may be issued until the construction of sidewalks have been completed upon the land for which such final inspection or certificate of occupancy is required and the construction approved by the Town Planning Department. If the cannot complete sidewalks within 12 months of acceptance of public , a request may be made to the town for additional time. The Town Manager or his/her designee shall have the authority to approve up to two, 12-month extensions completion periods for the sidewalk installation. If the Town Manager or his/her designee does not grant extensions for uncompleted sidewalks, the financial guarantee will be condemned and used to rectify the deficiency. If the Town Manager or his/her designee decides to condemn a guarantee an may be made to the for their consideration.
      (2)   A financial guarantee payable to the town in an amount equal to the estimated cost of the construction of the sidewalk, plus 25%, for that   shall be submitted to the town by the . In the event of a default by the in the requirements of this ordinance, and after 45 days written notice of such default by the town to the , the financial guarantee shall be forfeited to the town and the town may construct the sidewalks in question and apply the amount of said financial guarantee to the construction cost.
      (3)   In no case shall any town official accept the in a for town maintenance responsibility without the installation of sidewalks being completed or a financial guarantee payable to the town being posted to guarantee such construction.
(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005) (Am. Ord. 2006-20, passed 9-19-2006; Am. Ord. 2011-O26, passed 8-16-2011)