Oak Ridge Dec. 1 Town Council meeting

Dec. 1 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Martha Pittman and Spencer Sullivan present.

Jim Smith, interim principal at Oak Ridge Elementary School, offered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by three members of the school’s student council: Gealayanee Wingfield, Griffin Locke and Rhidita Fuad.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Sheriff’s Office. Cpl. J. Swaringen reported the sheriff’s District 1 office had 173 calls for service in Oak Ridge in November, including an attempted breakin at CVS Pharmacy at N.C. 68 and 150; the incident is related to a break-in at Crossroads Pharmacy on N.C. 68 and Haw River Road in Stokesdale, and an attempted break-in at Colfax Gun and Ammo, according to Swaringen.

Separately, he added that the CVS and Tractor Supply stores reported two shoplifting incidents.

There were also numerous vehicle theft-related incidents last month, Swaringen said. In the early morning of Nov. 19, the District 1 office responded to reports of several vehicle break-ins and the theft of two vehicles in the Haw River Road area.

Officers also responded to thefts from two vehicles at Oak Ridge Town Park. In the first incident, the suspects broke windows to steal items left in plain view; in the second incident, the vehicle’s doors had been left unlocked, Swaringen said. He noted the incidents serve as a reminder to “leave your property hidden in your vehicles and make sure they’re locked at all times, especially with the holidays coming up.” Oak Ridge Fire Dept. Lt. Hampton Staunton reported the department responded to 45 medical-related calls for service and five vehicle accidents last month. Firefighters obtained 535 hours of training.

Staunton urged homeowners to keep cut Christmas trees watered to help prevent house fires.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Rezoning request

' I .:]_ -�.:J....... ✓ ,Customtze � paver aefa::permanent tribut�Jo -- '"' [a v�teranI \ --=�'�>?c\1!'.t orloved " one. Quantjties limited! � / / / / $1 00 - 4" x 8" Paver (Tan only)

$250 - 8" x 8" Paver (Gray only)

C United Sta

L<oreari 1949-1 6eJoved F;uher All pavers will be installed on the Walk of Honor at the Oak Ridge Veterans Honor Green at Heritage Farm Park.

To purchase a paver, visit www.oakridgenc.com for a downloadable form. Drop off the completed form at Town Hall or mail to Town of Oak Ridge, P.O. Box 374, Oak Ridge, NC 27310. Questions? Call 336.644.7009.  5  0 to approve a request to rezone the town-owned 1.23-acre tract that includes the historic Redmon farmhouse at Linville Road and Lisa Drive in Town Park.

Rezoning the property from RS-30 (residential, with minimum lot sizes of 30,000 square feet) to PI (public and institutional) accommodates the town’s plans to convert the house into the Farmhouse Community Center.

With the rezoning, the tract is now zoned the same as Town Park, noted Sean Taylor, Oak Ridge’s planning director.

A public hearing was held prior to the council’s vote to invite citizen input, but no one spoke for or against the rezoning request. Text amendment

 5  0 to amend the town’s code of ordinances to create a new section related to regulating trees in town. For Oak Ridge to maintain its standing as a Tree City USA, the Arbor Day Foundation has informed the town it needs to establish rules for regulating trees on municipally owned property, Taylor told the council. At the foundation’s recommendation, the council also created a board to oversee implementation of an annual tree plan and establish a minimum standard of care and related enforcement. 8 DEC. 15, 2022 - JAN. 4, 2023 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 Later in the meeting, the council voted unanimously to appoint John Browning,

Austin Goldman, Roy Nydorf and Nancy Stoudemire to the Tree Board.

A public hearing was held to gain input on the proposed text amendment, but no citizens spoke for or against it.

RECOGNITION, PROCLAMATION, PRESENTATIONS

Carolyn Brown remembrance. Council members and several other people shared stories about Carolyn Brown, fondly referred to as “the Queen of Oak Ridge” for her decades of service to the town. She died Nov. 15 at age 88. (See related article on p. 6.) DAR appreciation. Mayor Schneider read a proclamation expressing Oak Ridge’s appreciation to the Guilford Battle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. During recent workdays to remove overgrowth and clean several graves in the Old Union Graveyard, chapter members uncovered six gravestones that had been covered by plant debris for more than 50 years.

“These stones have now been cleaned and reset in the locations where they were found,” the proclamation read. Veterans Honor Green donation. Nick Jamieson, a Scout with Oak Ridge Troop 600, presented a check for $5,002.27 as a donation to the Veterans Honor Green. For his Eagle Scout project, he organized a 5K race and 1-mile family fun run/walk in Town Park Oct. 15, with proceeds earmarked for the veterans’ site.

Jamieson described the run as “a massive success” in terms of fundraising and recognition for the veterans’ site planned for Heritage Farm Park.

Patti Dmuchowski, chair of the Special Events Committee, which is leading the veterans’ project, praised Jamieson for organizing the run, securing sponsors and other projectrelated accomplishments.

Jamieson’s donation, coupled with the town’s plan to match contributions in the fourth quarter, pushes fundraising for the veterans’ site over $150,000, according to Dmuchowski.

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO Special Events Committee member Ben Walraven (left) and chair Patti Dmuchowski (right) accept a check for $5,002.27 from Scout Nick Jamieson with Troop 600 at Oak Ridge Town Council’s Dec. 1 meeting. The donation represented proceeds from the Veterans Honor Run 5K and 1-mile fun run Jamieson organized and held in Town Park on Oct. 15, and were slated for the future Veterans Honor Green in Heritage Farm Park.

The campaign’s goal is $200,000. Treasure Trees. The town’s Tree City USA Committee presented a book of photographs showcasing 30 trees recognized for their height, historical significance and other attributes.

The images captured by photographer Erin Kye show 28 species of trees such as white oak, black walnut and longleaf pine. The committee selected them as Oak Ridge’s Treasure Trees in a 2019 competition and produced the book with color photographs and descriptions of the winners.

“Treasure Trees of Oak Ridge” can be viewed on the town’s website, under the News tab on the homepage.

The trees are “part of our heritage, and they are living heritage,” Councilwoman Martha Pittman said.

MANAGER’S REPORT

 5  0 to appoint Beth Walker to the Board of Adjustment.  5  0 to approve the 2023 schedule for town council and board meetings and holidays.  5  0 to approve a social media policy allowing town staff to hide or delete comments deemed vulgar, threatening, false and otherwise inappropriate.

The policy applies to Oak Ridge’s website, Facebook page and Nextdoor posts. Without the policy, town staff can’t remove inappropriate comments, said Sandra Smith, assistant town manager and clerk.

“We’ve never had a problem with any of these issues,” she said, “but we kind of want to head it off just in case something were to happen.”

NEW BUSINESS

 5  0 to authorize town staff to seek financing for development of Heritage Farm Park. Sam Anders, the town’s finance officer, is working with Truist and Piedmont Federal banks on borrowing for construction of two multipurpose fields, a playground and other improvements slated for the 62 acres on Linville Road behind Town Hall. (See related article on p. 2.)

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Conservation Easement Committee. Chair Stephanie Farrell reported that two property owners are interested in placing easements on their historic structures.

The town’s “Conserving Oak Ridge through Easements” program seeks to educate and encourage owners of historic buildings and open space to use easements to preserve their property. ...continued on p. 42

Virtual Care from Your Home

All LeBauer HealthCare practices are o ering virtual care appointments with your provider through a video visit. In-person appointments are also available. In-person appointments are also available.

Connect with the healthcare provider that you know and trust from the comfort of home. Virtual appointments are billed to your insurance just like your regular o ce visits. Schedule your appointment at lebauer.com or call your provider’s o ce today.

lebauer.com