News Briefs

Preview: Oak Ridge Town Council meeting, Sept. 1

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by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council plans to consider renting space in Town Hall to Envirolink Inc., operator of the town’s new municipal water system.

A resolution calls for the lease or rental of the southeastern corner of Town Hall. According to a sketch of the space, it will serve as an office for Envirolink’s staff to conduct business, such as collecting monthly payments from customers who want to pay in person.

In June, the council voted to set fees and charges for users of the town’s water system. The first customers of the system will be homeowners in Honeycutt Reserve, a subdivision under development on Bunch Road.

The council also plans to recognize former council member Doug Nodine, who died July 23 (see related article below). It will also honor longtime council member and former mayor pro tem, Roger Howerton, for his contributions to Oak Ridge.

In other business, the council plans to appoint Todd Hall as an alternate to the Water Advisory Committee. It will also consider reappointing Phyllis Anders to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Patti Paslaru to the Planning and Zoning Board.

The council will also consider approving an update of the town’s 2017 study of staff compensation and job classifications. Prepared by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, the update will determine how pay in Oak Ridge compares with other jurisdictions, Town Manager Bill Bruce told the council in May.

want to attend/ watch?

The 7 p.m. meeting at Town Hall this Thursday, Sept. 1, is open to the public. The meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.oakridgenc.com.

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Former councilman to be honored at Sept. 1 meeting

by CHRIS BURRITT

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OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council plans to honor former councilman Doug Nodine, who died July 23 at the age of 75. Mayor Ann Schneider plans to invite people attending the council’s monthly meeting this Thursday, Sept. 1, to share recollections about Nodine, who served the community of Oak Ridge for many years as a member of the town’s planning board, town council, Lions Club and founder and president of PreservaThe Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 tion Oak Ridge. Nodine was serving his second term as an Oak Ridge Council member when he resigned last March due to illness.

“It’s an opportunity to speak about Doug’s service to the community and Doug Nodine to remember his life,” Schneider said in an interview earlier this week about the time that will be set aside to honor Nodine at the upcoming council meeting.

Until the latter stage of his illness, Nodine enjoyed starting many mornings gathered with friends at Bistro 150 in Oak Ridge Commons.

During his six years on the council, Nodine, a conservative, often cast the lone vote against projects – such as initial steps in establishing a municipal water system – that he thought put taxpayers’ money at risk.

Nodine was an active member of the Oak Ridge Lions Club for almost 20 years, and served as the club’s treasurer for some of that time. A commercial and residential developer by profession, he helped found and served as president of Preservation Oak Ridge. In that role, he led the restoration of the historic Ai Church on N.C. 68 and Alcorn Road.

Nodine is survived by his wife, Cathy, son, Michael, daughter-in-law, Sunshine, four grandchildren, sister Nancy Sudol and niece Sara SudolGarcia, according to his obituary.

Medical imaging center plans to open in former Southern States site by late 2023

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging (DRI), which operates three centers in Greensboro, plans to expand into the space formerly occupied by Southern States Cooperative store at N.C. 150 and Lake Brandt Road in Summerfield. The building has been vacant since Southern States closed the store in July 2020, after a spokesperson for the Richmond, Virginia-based company said the store had not yielded a profit in any of its 14 years of operation in Summerfield.

The site plan for DRI Lake Brandt has been approved by the town of Summerfield, according to town planner Brad Rentz. A “DRI coming soon” sign and two banners have recently been placed at the building at 6199 Lake Brandt Road.

Construction of DRI Lake Brandt

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging plans to transform this building into an imaging center.

is scheduled to start in November or December, with the center becoming operational about a year later, according to Kelli Collins, DRI’s practice manager. The center will enable Greensboro Imaging patients living in the Summerfield area to receive care closer to home, Collins said.

DRI Lake Brandt will offer a range of diagnostic imaging services, such as mammograms, computerized tomo graphy (CT) scans and ultrasounds.