By D. Lars Dolder, Chatham News + Record Staff
The city leaders, including the commissioners’ committee and city staff, have been working behind the scenes for more than a year to resolve Pittsboro’s worsening water pollution problems. However, a lack of transparency has obscured their intentions and left many residents unsure of the city’s progress, according to city administrator Chris Kennedy.
“We need to communicate better with the public,” he said at the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Monday. “… We try to get this through as best we can, but for what we may lack in communication skills to get this through on a regular basis, I can assure you that we will trade this for trying to do things on the other side … We take it seriously and try everything to drive solutions forward. “
The Pittsboro water supply, which originates from the Haw River, has received widespread attention across the state and country after scientists and researchers discovered in recent years that it was a per- and polyfluoroalkyl carcinogenic substance known as PFAS are, as previously reported by News + Record. Other harmful chemicals, such as 1,4-dioxane, have been found in above-average concentrations compared to the nationwide water supply, but have broken down in recent months.
On January 11th, the board held a presentation from CDM Smith, an engineering and construction company that provides water solutions for government and residential customers. Pittsboro hired the company to investigate possible solutions to the city’s water pollution.
“That was the culmination of a year or so of work,” said Kennedy of the presentation.
A month later, city officials applied to the Board of Commissioners for $ 1.2 million to respond to CDM Smith’s recommendations and begin developing a filtration system that would remove 90% of all PFAS from the city’s drinking water supply. The commissioners immediately approved the request.
“This $ 1.2 million is going into what is known as a fast-track GAC project,” said Kennedy, referring to the granular activated carbon filtration that the board decided to install. “We know that time is of the essence in projects like this, and I think the board is responding to that call.”
The accelerated installation project should be completed within a year. Of the $ 1.2 million allocation, $ 800,000 will be used to purchase GAC containers and required filter media, the “carbon itself,” Kennedy said. The other $ 400,000 covers engineering costs.
Rapid filtration, however, will not meet all of Pittsboro’s long-term water needs. Along with the installation of the GAC, the city is working with Durham, Chatham County and OWASA, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, to pursue the development of a new water treatment plant on Jordan Lake. In late February, Kennedy said, the board approved $ 70,000 to “continue this project.”
“Obviously there is a much longer lead time,” he said. “We look at each other for most of a decade or more. But we are very active in it. “
A few weeks after the board authorized staff to proceed with GAC filtration, the city accepted an offer from CDM Smith to undertake the design / construction phase of modifying the sewage treatment plant.
“If you look at qualifications, nobody knows our system better than they do,” said Kennedy. “We were very happy that you applied for this project. You also have a very strong engineering branch on your team. So we’re on the right track with this project and we’re continuing. “
The financing of such projects is still a concern of the board of directors and the city staff. Accelerated building requires significant upfront payments that may need to be replaced by higher user rates. To subsidize the costs, Kennedy filed a federal grant application with Congressman David Price earlier this month to cover most of the project’s costs.
“I think we have a compelling case for Congressman Price to table this,” said Kennedy. “PFAS is a national issue, and it certainly doesn’t come as a shock to anyone about our current state in Pittsboro. We hope we have a very competitive, compelling case to get some money … We got ourselves hoping for swinging the fences that something would happen. “
The city will also benefit from President Joe Biden’s American rescue plan. Pittsboro is expected to receive approximately $ 1.2 million, all of which will be used for water solutions.
“This board helped me propose that we spend 100% of those dollars on this fast-track project and our water plan,” said Kennedy.
The GAC system is expected to cost approximately $ 3 million to install. Long-term plans to increase and improve the water supply in Pittsboro will cost approximately $ 42 million.
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners has been discussing unregulated chemicals that affect drinking water for several years. Most recently, it signed a contract with CDM Smith, an engineering and construction company that provides water and other solutions for government and residential customers, to study the city’s water supply and expand the wastewater treatment plant.
Other news
The commissioners discussed various land development issues. The first three were examined in a public hearing and sent to the city’s planning authority for further consideration. The last three were approved by motion.
• Rezoning request
Chatham Park investors proposed an amendment to the master plan for the proposed Chatham Park Development District to reclassify three parcels on Eubanks Road adjacent to the intersections of US Hwy. 64 bypass.
• Special permit for the Green Beagle Kennel
The Green Beagle Kennel, which has a boarding house in Chapel Hill, applied for special permission to build a commercial kennel, an additional day care center for pets, grooming and dog training for pets, which is located on an area of 16 acres on Eubanks Road next to and north of is US Hwy. 64 bypass.
• Change of the zone text
The planning staff requested the adoption of the city’s unified development ordinance, which “consolidates, circumscribes and replaces several ordinances in a single document to manage land development, including the zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance, the flood damage prevention ordinance, the lighting ordinance, the rainwater ordinance and the bank protection ordinance”, so the proposal submitted by the city. The UDO aims to streamline the functions of the city and make it easier to review for new developments.
• Change of zone text for night clubs, bars and taverns
City officials requested a change to the zoning ordinance to allow nightclubs, bars, and taverns within the zoning for commercial highways (C-2) and central commercial zones (C-4). The adjustment would allow such companies to operate in neighborhoods – especially downtown – where they were previously limited. The board voted 4-1 in favor of the change, and Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin voted against fearing bars and nightclubs might work too close to schools.
• Reallocation of the shopping center
Developer Graham Scott Oldham is being asked to rezone the board approximately 13 acres from residential agricultural areas to commercial highway conditions. The land is located at 3151 US 15-501 North and is the current location of Poultry Villa Landscaping and Supplies. Oldham plans to develop a commercial mall. The Committee of Commissioners unanimously approved his request.
• Channel assignment request for the Kiwanis Club of Pittsboro
The Kiwanis Club of Pittsboro, which plans to host the new Boys & Girls Club in Pittsboro, requested a new channel allocation of 665 gallons per day from the city. The 2,700-square-foot facility is now using a wastewater treatment plant that is failing. The board agreed unanimously.
Chapelboro.com has partnered with Chatham News + Record to bring more stories to our audience that are focused on Chatham.
The Chatham News + Record is the source for local news and journalism in Chatham County. Founded in 1924, Chatham News and Chatham Record, founded in 1878, have partnered to better serve the Chatham community as Chatham News + Record. Covering the news, business, sports, and more, News + Record works to strengthen relationships with the community through compelling coverage of life in Chatham County.
Comments are closed.