MINUTES OF THE WHITSETT TOWN COUNCIL
October 9, 2007
Whitsett Town Hall Building
The regular meeting of the Whitsett Town Council was held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday,
October 9, 2007, at the Whitsett Town Hall. The following members of the
Town Council were present: Mayor Richard Fennell, Mayor Pro Tem Andy Brown, Councilmembers Jerry Rice, Ken Jacobs, and Cindy Wheeler. Also present were Town Administrator Gary Deal and Planning Board Chairman Bob Maccia. Various guest speakers from Guilford County government were also present and are listed below in addition to Dr. Ken Rudo, a toxicologist from the State Laboratory of Public Health.
Mayor Fennell called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and noted that a quorum was present. Councilmember Rice offered the invocation.
Mayor Fennell asked for any speakers from the floor; and there were none.
OLD BUSINESS
1.
Adoption of
the Minutes
Mayor Fennell asked for any changes to the September 11, 2007 minutes for the regular monthly meeting; and there were none. Motion made by Councilmember Jerry Rice to adopt the minutes as written; motion seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Andy Brown. Adoption carried by unanimous vote.
2. Public Health Guests in
Attendance – Dr. Ken Rudo, Toxicologist for State Laboratory of Public Health; Mr. John Nantz and Ms. Mindy
Lippard, Guilford County Department
of Public Health
Mayor Fennell offered the floor to the guest speakers who, he explained, would help clarify the confusion over the water test results and would interpret the type of and extent of contamination.
Dr. Ken Rudo took the floor and commended the Guilford County Public Health Department for its vast knowledge, expertise, and interest in taking on whatever is necessary for resolve to the existing water problems. Dr. Rudo iterated that the County Health Department is the best in the State, bar none; and that Whitsett is fortunate to have its support and assistance.
Dr. Rudo then suggested that, to introduce what the State and County are cooperatively are working on, Mindy Lippard first lay out the action already taken and steps in progress at the test site within her jurisdiction at the intersection of highways 70 and 61, which falls within her jurisdiction. Dr. Rudo will follow with addressing the health effects and efforts to getting alternate water supplies.
Mindy Lippard explained that at the site where once a Texaco station stood a remediation system is in place and working well. At the operating Shell station (Mini-Mart), soil tests were being monitored routinely; and business had, in fact, been suspended a while back until it could be determined how much contamination remained on site. Ms. Lippard reported that on-site contamination had diminished considerably, the station was reopened; and now concern had shifted primarily to off-site contamination—where it is going, and how fast it is moving.
John Nantz provided a map to better illustrate the area under investigation which, included about a quarter mile radius from the 70/61 intersection; and emphasized that because they know there is a plume out there and know it is moving, the County will be expanding the area for testing residential wells to track the path and rate of movement.
Dr. Rudo explained that the detection of gasoline containing the carcinogens of Benzene and MTBEs (Methyl-t-Butyl-Ether) fell at different levels depending on proximity to the highway intersection and the depth of the residential wells tested.
The households with contamination levels considered to pose a long-term cancer risk were directed to not use the water at all and had been provided either bottled water or a filtration system via the Trust Fund; those with lower levels had been recommended to limit bathing/shower time in order to not be subjected to carcinogenic vapors for an extended period of time; and also told to ventilate during and after bathing to expel vapors and not have them linger. Households, he further explained, that had even lower “trace” levels and did not presently pose a health risk, should seek County retesting every 3-4 months to determine the speed and intensity of contamination. The probability of those areas becoming the next sector with a health risk is high.
To this end, Dr. Rudo is pursuing two avenues for funding help: (1) the public water supply section of the Division of Environmental Health who helps pay for water lines for communities that are priorities, and (2) the Rural Center that helps running lines in rural areas. In this case, matching funds would be required and Whitsett would have to be granted an exception since it is situated in a County that would not qualify. Dr. Rudo also said that he would write a letter of priority to the State asserting the severity of the water test results, the degree of health risks, and the urgency for Whitsett needing help.
The issue of liability was raised as to recourse for homeowners affected by tainted wells; and John Nantz stated that the County Public Health Department would not address that issue; but relayed to the audience instances where homeowners went to the Tax Office reporting that their property had been affected by gas releases contaminating their ground water; and that, as a result, their property was worth less. The Tax Office then had confirmed these claims with the Public Health Department, and the homeowners’ tax assessment had been reduced.
Dr. Rudo, at this point, offered to meet with Whitsett residents collectively outside the Council room so the meeting could proceed. There he would be glad to further discuss individual cases, answer additional questions, and give possible options, suggestions.
3. Additional Guilford County Government Guests – Mr. Rob Bencini from Strategic Planning; Ms. Beverly Williams
from Coordinated Services
Mayor Fennell invited Rob Bencini to take the floor for a presentation on the Guilford County Strategic Alliance with a mission to seek feedback during forums with various focus groups, e.g., municipal elected officials, ethnic groups, etc., for the purpose of improving County service provisions. This strategic planning process is scheduled to be a 2-year project consisting of such elements as evaluating services quality, operational planning, and budget formulation.
Mr. Bencini then turned over the floor to Ms. Beverly Williams who works in Coordinated Services under the County Manager’s Office. Ms. Williams asked the public and the Council members for input on: What does the County do well? What could the County improve on? And, what are the perceived important issues for the County to address? Finally, Ms. Williams raised the major County concern of education, and requested opinions.
Basically, comments dealt with overcrowding in schools, funding relative to the education programs in the County, and then also animal control and animal abuse.
Ms. Williams thanked those who contributed and the Council for allowing time; and assured that all suggestions and concerns would be brought before the County planners for discussion.
2.
Any Other
Old Business
Mayor Fennell asked for any other old business; and there was none.
Planning Board Chairman Bob Maccia reported that at their October 3 meeting
the Board had invited Mr. Greg Niles, Director of Planning and Development for Guilford County to speak on long-range land-use planning. Chairman Maccia stated that the Town intends to develop just such a formal plan with a view to the future of Whitsett; and that Mr. Niles had been extremely informative and helpful in educating the Board on formulating a land-use plan. Examples of a land-use plan for a County area had been distributed by Mr. Niles on October 3; and Chairman Maccia provided those examples to the members of the Town Council.
Board Chairman Maccia further explained that this Town project would be timely since Guilford County is in the throes of updating its 8 regional maps (with accompanying policies) for the unincorporated areas of the County. This county-wide project is planned for completion by the summer of next year; and Whitsett would like to embark on establishing its own land-use plan in conjunction with the County’s endeavor.
Chairman Maccia stated that most important during the presentation, Mr. Niles offered staff assistance from the County Planning Department. And, although full-time assistance would not be available for another 4 or 5 months, until that time, Mr. Niles’ staff could be gathering preliminary background until such time as at least two County staffers would be assigned full-time to helping the Whitsett Planning Board.
Chairman Maccia explained that the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend to the Town Council that Whitsett accept Mr. Niles’ offer for staff assistance, and requested that the Town Council consider doing the same.
Without hesitation, Councilmember Jerry Rice made a motion to engage the services of the Guilford County Department of Planning and Development; motion seconded by Councilmember Ken Jacobs. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
2.
Enforcement Committee
Enforcement Officer Gary Deal reported that the Committee had forwarded to Guilford County for their intervention and assistance, the information package assembled and presented by Lee Greeson to members of the Town Council at the July 10 Council meeting. The package consisted of various properties within Whitsett that were allegedly in nonconformance with Town ordinances, and possibly presented health risk conditions.
Enforcement Officer Gary Deal reported that three development clearance permits had been issued this month: (1) renewal permit issued to Danny Whitsett for continued renovations inside and outside to property located at 7222 Whitsett Park Road, (2) renewal permit issued to Mike Duquette for completion of new construction, including installation of propane tank and line, on property located
at 7020 Kivettte House Road, and (3) permit issued to Melvin Brown to bring electrical service/system up to County code for residence at 7126 Gusenbury Road.
Town Administrator Gary Deal stated that there was nothing to report.
1. Any Items from Council
Members
Mayor Fennell asked for any other items from Council members; there were none.
5. Announcements
Mayor Fennell asked for any announcements; and there were none.
Mayor Fennell asked for any speakers from the floor; and Nancy Apple asked about progress on the cleaning up of various properties within Whitsett. Reply was the effort is a work in progress, and the County had been involved.
More specifically, Edna Blythe asked about the property on Highway 61 which remains vacated. Town Administrator Gary Deal explained that this is a case of about 3 years of delinquent taxes, and last word was property owner was in a nursing home. Gary Deal will again follow up with the County Tax Office, and will seek advice from the Town’s attorney.
With no further business before the Council, Mayor Fennell invited a motion to
adjourn. Motion was made by Councilmember Jerry Rice and seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Andy Brown. Motion passed unanimously; and the October 9
Town Council meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Town Council will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday,
November 13, 2007, at the Whitsett Town Hall.
_________________________________ _________________________________
Jo Hesson, Town Clerk Richard Fennell, Mayor
APPROVED:
November 13, 2007