Bryson City town board members Monday night agreed to continue work on an ordinance that is expected to affect a wide range of local businesses and organizations requiring them to install costly equipment to prevent contaminated backflow from entering the Bryson City water system.
The list of businesses and organizations, such as churches, affected by the proposed ordinance in the town has topped more than 100, according to a list released by Bryson City officials.
The state is requiring Reduced Pressure Zone, or RPZ, devices to be installed at each meter on “high hazard” buildings linked to public water systems across North Carolina. The devices are designed to prevent contaminated backflow from entering the water system. The law has been in effect for many years, but the town hasn’t enacted it. However, the state required enforcement starting Jan. 1 this year, prompting town officials to move forward.
Mayor Tom Sutton said Monday he checked with district officials who told him other towns are ahead of Bryson City in implementing the state law. Sutton said Bryson City is “behind” and that he was advised by the district to “take time on it” because of its complexity.
Sutton suggested the board continue working on the ordinance at its next workshop, Feb. 17.
The town is looking to develop three tiers of “high impact” local businesses required to install the equipment, which cost $250 to $10,000, according to Town Manager Regina Mathis. The cost does not include labor.
The tiers haven’t been adopted, but are proposed, Mathis said.
The first tier of enforcement incudes medical facilities, nursing homes, laundry facilities, tattoo studios, hotels and multi-use facilities with a master meter.
The list in the first tier includes Swain Hospital, Swain Health Department, the visitor center, FedEx, two breweries, the jail and others. About three dozen businesses are listed.
The list in the second tier includes garages, day cares, nail salons, campgrounds, schools with possible hazards, commercial pools. About three dozen businesses are listed.
The third tier includes multi-use buildings, restaurants, gas stations with walk-in coolers and or chillers. The list includes more than 50 businesses and organizations.
There are also about a dozen businesses and organizations, including churches, that town officials are uncertain about.
Single-family homes are not included. Apartments or duplexes that are single metered at each unit are not included. Apartments will one master meter are included.
Fines for violations can be as high as $1,000 a day. Failure to maintain backflow assemblies can be $100 a day.
In other action, the board:
*Agreed to spend $550 to help RENEW Bryson City purchase billboard space in front of Ingles for an anti-drug use campaign for two months.
*Adopted a Main Street master plan for Bryson City created by Destination by Design. The project was part of the Main Street Streetscape Plan, a no-cost grant from the state.
Town officials said the state Department of Transportation will be called in as a consultant if any of the plans are enacted.
Sutton said the designs aren’t “set in stone because we don’t know what DOT’s plans are going to be.”
*The board began preliminary budget planning for the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Fire Chief Charles Bryson said his department needs a new fire truck. He had an estimate of about $400,000 needed in town funds to buy a truck. Bryson said the town will need a new fire station to meet the needs of larger equipment, especially if the town buys a 75-foot ladder truck to meet the challenges of high rises.
Police Chief Charlie Robinson said his department would like a 3 percent pay raise for all employees. He said new hand-held radio equipment at an estimated cost of $5,375 was needed. The chief said two radar units costing about $5,400 were needed. Also, the chief said new vehicles were needed, estimated at $43,264 for one Ford Explorer and $37,237 for one Dodge Durango. The cost includes installation of police packages.
In other action, the board heard reports from department heads:
*Police Chief Robinson reported there were 46 incidents cited in January including 13 motor vehicle accidents with one injury; three DWIs; five drug related traffic incidents; 53 traffic stops with 28 citations and 41 charges; 403 business checks.
*Water Plant Operator Russell Ball reported the average water use (pumped in the town) was 490,000 gallons a day; billable 252,186 gallons a day; a total of 7,044,410 gallons was unaccounted for during January. Had the unaccounted amount been billed, an estimated $39,9441 in revenue would have been received, the report said.
*Water Treatment Plant operator Greg Passmore average flow was 651,400 gallons a day with a minimum flow of 496,800 gallons and the highest flow 953,000 gallons in January. A total of 10.50 inches of rain was reported during the month. The operator reported the town exceeded its state permit levels of its daily flow. Passmore said there is has been a 20,000 to 40,000 gallon daily decrease in flow since the completion of the Hughes Branch project.
*Fire Chief Bryson reported there were 40 calls during January. The chief is working on a mutual aid agreement with Cherokee.
*Town Manager Mathis reported work on Hughes Branch is “complete”, the Main Street Project is complete and the rollback dump truck was delivered.
The next board meeting will be Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in town hall.