STOKES COUNTY
WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
MEETING
JULY 19, 2007
The Stokes
County Water and Sewer Authority met in regular session on July19, 2007, with
the following members present:
Wayne Smart,
Chairman
Ron
Clifford, Member
Worth
Hampton, Member
Arzell Montgomery, Member
Ron Morgan, Ex-officio Member
Bryan Steen, County Manager
Brenda Carter, Secretary
Absent:
John Hawkins, Vice Chairman
Julia Edwards, Finance Director
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
After
calling the meeting to order Mr. Smart asked for approval of the June 21, 2007
minutes if there were no corrections.
Mr. Montgomery made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr.
Clifford and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION/GOLDER ASSOCIATES REPORT
Mr. Smart
asked Mr. Clifford to speak to the Board concerning the report from Golder
Associates.
Mr.
Clifford noted that he had read over this report and found the report (Groundwater
Resource Evaluation) to be very informative.
He reviewed the report with the Board and noted that the Germanton area
seemed the best groundwater exploration area, to dig a well. Mr. Clifford noted that according to the
reports/maps that there was a possibility of getting 200 to 300 gallons per
minute from this well. Mr. Clifford
noted according to these reports/maps that the reason that the Town of Walnut
Cove is having trouble with groundwater is that there is a likelihood that
groundwater is not there, but there is the likelihood that there is in the
Germanton area. Mr. Clifford noted that
not only could this drilled well service Germanton, but also Walnut Cove. Mr. Clifford noted according to the reports
that it was probable to have to dig down 400 to 500 feet to get water.
Mr.
Clifford noted that the Pinnacle area shows to be the best area for groundwater
exploration to benefit that part of the county.
Mr.
Clifford also noted that a Resistivity Study in the Germanton area was needed. Mr. Clifford explained to the Board what
resistivity means. He noted that they
send an electric current down into the ground and where the area with the least
resistivity are the ones with the most fractures and that is where you will get
the most water. Mr. Clifford noted that
this a very accurate study and recommends that the Board should run a
resistivity study.
Mr. Hampton
asked if this well produced two hundred gallons per minutes would this
eliminate the lines from Forsyth County and Mr. Clifford noted that it
would. Mr. Clifford noted that one
hundred gallons per minute would supply an area of 3,000 people. Mr. Clifford noted that storage tanks are
needed for a three day supply.
Mr. Hampton
asked what would have to be done to the water coming out of the well to be able
to use it. Mr. Clifford noted that
sometimes nothing has to be done and that he thinks the problem that some of
the Highway #65/Germanton users are having is coming from iron manganese. He noted when you go deeper into the ground
for water that you do not have this problem.
Mr. Hampton
noted that he had missed a meeting, but what he was gathering from this meeting
was that the Board did not need to put a water plant off Highway #311. Mr. Clifford noted that right now there was
no need to do so, but the Board still needed to apply for water rights on Dan
River. Mr. Clifford noted that he had
not read the second report from Golder Associates, but hoped there was
information concerning the water rights as that was the purpose of the study.
Mr. Hampton
asked if this report was all that the Board was to receive from Golder
Associates and Mr. Clifford noted that this was not and then asked Mrs. Carter
if she could get a copy of the contract for them. Mrs. Carter had a copy of the last page of the contract stating
the cost of each phase. Mr. Clifford
noted that Phase 3 was a Detailed Investigation of Potential Targets and at
that time in his opinion the Board should seek advice from Golder Associates as
where to dig, how deep to go, and how many gallons per minute they think the
SCWSA can get at that site. Also, Mr.
Clifford noted that out of the $22,000 he hopes that the water rights permit
might be obtained, he will read the contract to know if this is possible.
Mr. Hampton
asked if he might obtain a copy of the first report and the Board noted that he
could. It was noted that Golder
Associates would supply a copy of this report.
Mr. Smart
noted that it was important that the Well Project be started and Mr. Morgan
noted that this should be the highest priority of the Board and the Board
agreed.
Mr. Hampton
informed the SCWSA Board that there was a possibility that the Board might
obtain funds from the Economic Development Commission for this project.
Mr. Smart noted that the Mr. Bryan
Steen, SC Manager had talked with the town manager of Walnut Cove and he had
talked with the mayor of Walnut Cove concerning a joint venture. Mr. Smart felt that through his discussions
that the officials were ready to begin this joint venture. He noted that they had requested maps and
names of the Germanton/Highway #65 users.
If the Town of Walnut Cove would take on this project then the
possibility of receiving grant money to add sewer lines in the Germanton area
could be a reality.
Mr. Smart noted that Representative
Bryan Holloway is planning to come up within the next two weeks to meet with
the mayor and manager of the Town of Walnut Cove. Representative Holloway said that he would then return to Raleigh
to seek funding for them.
WATER WITHDRAWAL/FIRE HYDRANTS
Mr.
Montgomery had a question about the individual that had been drawing water from
the fire hydrants to fill swimming pools.
Mr. Smart noted that he had talked with Mr. Hawkins about this and he
was to call the Sheriffs Office. Mr.
Hawkins was not present at this meeting to speak on the issue. Mr. Montgomery stated that he had seen a
truck at Germanton Park with water running out of it and there was a fire
hydrant nearby with water around it.
After
further discussion the Board asked Mr. Ron Morgan to draft a letter for Mr.
Smart to sign to the individual concerning withdrawing water from the fire
hydrant.
At this
time Mr. Smart informed the Board that he had talked with the Vice Chairman,
John Hawkins and got his approval and wanted the approval of the Board that he
would step down as Chairman and would like to recommend to the Board that Mr.
Ron Clifford become the new Chairman.
After
discussion, Mr. Hampton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Montgomery to approve
Mr. Clifford as the new Chairman. The
motion was unanimously approved.
As there
was no further business the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for August 23, 2007.