Water & Sewer Commission

Town of Mount Airy Water and Sewer Commission Meeting Minutes – August 5, 2015 Commission members in attendance: Dick Swanson, Council Liaison Peter Helt, and Fred Goundry. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. Virginia Siemer, Source Water Specialist, of the Rural Water Association attended the meeting. Minutes: Peter Helt moved to approve the minutes of the June 3, 2015 meeting. Seconded by Dick Swanson and the motion passed unanimously. There was no meeting in July in order to attend the MML Convention. Old Business: Stormwater Management: Dick Swanson reported that the Town and WRCC are working to determine the ownership of the Merridale stormwater pond in order to take title and begin work. Due to the demise of the homeowners association. Dick Swanson attended the WRCC/Town meeting with interested homeowners to obtain input on the Twin Ridge stormwater pond upgrade. The consensus of the attending homeowners was to leave the pond as a “wet” pond. At the WRCC July 22nd meeting, the group voted to recommend that the Carroll County Commissions include the cost of purchasing property in the MOA funding for stormwater remediation FOG Compliance: Dick Swanson updated the W&S on FOG compliance. He stated that two FSEs have yet to file their grease trap forms. The Code Enforcer will issue notices of intent to fine High’s (1001 Twin Arch Road) andTutti Fruitti of Mt Airy if they do not submit their form within a specified time. New Business: Well Observation: Dick Swanson distributed a graph from Carroll County showing that from July 2002 and present the water drawn from the well at Watkins Park has had no negative impact on the water table. Water Source Study: In order to plan for future water demands consistent with the goals of the Master Plan,Dick Swanson moved, seconded by Peter Helt, that based on a consensus reached at the July 7, 2015 meeting between Dick Swanson (Water & Sewer Commission), Barney Quinn and Rachel Gude (Town Engineer Staff), and Bob King (Town Council Member), the Water & Sewer Commission recommend that the Town Council endorse prioritizing the review of potential sources of addition water in order to meet the goals and objectives of the recently adopted Master Plan. The review should include but not limited to well exploration, purchase of land for recharge, purchase/donation of water rights for recharge credits, and the use of Article 5-501 of Chapter 197 of State Law which states “... the Department may give priority to a public water system that provides water to: (I) a municipal corporation, not including those areas annexed after January 1, 2000...). The motion passed by unanimous vote. Flushable Kitty Littler: As part of the W&S program to inform citizens, Dick Swanson suggested that Peter Helt include in the W&S Council report a statement pointing out the flushing “flushable” kitty litter into the sewer system may cause a clog. Citizens should be advised that nothing “flushable” is necessarily safe for the system and should be disposed of properly. LGIT FOG Article: The Spring/Summer 2015 issue of the Local Government Insurance Trust contained an article entitled “Sewer System Out of Sight, Out of Mind – A Member Case Study” with a nice write-up about Mount Airy addressing the impact of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) by creating an ordinance setting out food service establishment responsibilities to maintain their grease trap and penalties for violations. Adjournment: Dick Swanson moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Peter Helt and passed by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm. W&S Meeting: The next W&S meeting is September 1, 2015 in Town Hall at 7:00 pm. Prepared by, Dick Swanson, Secretary