SUMMERFIELD town council
Nov. 9 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting in the newly renovated Summerfield Community Center to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne W. DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker present. Sessoms offered the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ANNOUNCEMENT Christmas tree lighting. Town Manager Scott Whitaker provided details about the annual Christmas tree lighting at Summerfield Athletic Park. The event, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, is free to attend, but the town is encouraging people to bring donations of non-perishable
food items to supply the backpack programs at local schools.
PUBLIC SAFETY Summerfield Fire District. The district reported it responded to 112 calls for service in October; they included 38 fire-related calls, 61 EMS-related calls and 13 other calls. Firefighters also installed 12 child safety seats. Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office responded to 88 calls for service in Summerfield last month; they included three residential burglaries, one auto theft and four incidents involving discharged firearms.
PUBLIC COMMENTS Dwayne Crawford reiterated his
our family caring for yours Our providers have one goal: keeping you and your family healthy. As part of a world-class academic medical center, we have access to a broad range of services focused on high-quality, affordable care. Same- and next-day appointments often available. Family Medicine – Summerfield 4431 US Highway 220 North Summerfield, NC 27358 336-643-7711 • WakeHealth.edu
ACCEPTING MOST MAJOR INSURANCE PROVIDERS
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NOV. 18 - DEC. 1, 2021
WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne W. DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the Nov. 9 council meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.
5 0: Rezone the nearly half-acre tract at 7405 Summerfield Road, at the request of Sport Auto owner Steve Barney 3 2: Proceed (Sessoms and Perryman opposed) with the design of a new town hall
4 1: Adopt (Perryman opposed) an ordinance renewing the town’s solid waste and recycling franchise contract with Republic Services of North Carolina
5 0: Approve the town’s contract for receipt of a matching $500,000 state grant for the development of Bandera Farms Park
previous request that Summerfield Fire District provide a breakdown of the number of fires it responded to (versus just “fire-related incidents”) when giving its monthly activity report to the council. As an opponent of a proposed municipal water system for fire suppression, Crawford has been trying to make the case that the fire district doesn’t need additional water resources for fighting fires in Summerfield. Citing incident reports from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Crawford said Summerfield Fire District responded to 109 calls about structure fires from 2015 through 2019. Of that total, 20 occurred within Summerfield’s town limits and only one required the shuttling of water to extinguish the blaze, he said. Later in the meeting, Barnes said firefighters across Guilford County ran out of water fighting the blaze that destroyed Eastern Guilford High School 15 years ago. Walker, a Summerfield fireman, said he recalled at least two fires from 2015 through 2019 that required the shuttling of water. Walker urged residents to reach out to Fire Chief Chris Johnson with questions about the district.
Later, during council comments, DeVaney thanked the fire department The Northwest Observer •for Totally local since 1996 coming to her house about a year
ago after she reported a possible fire. Jane Doggett thanked the town for purchasing cushioned chairs as part of its renovation of the community center (the new cushioned chairs replaced folding metal ones). Greg Fox, who lost his bid for a council seat in the Nov. 2 election, congratulated Sessoms for being elected as mayor and Janelle Robinson and John Doggett for their election to the council. He said he appreciated that his opponents treated him with respect and that he tried to treat them respectfully as well. Sessoms told Fox he appreciated his attitude. Beth Kaplan thanked the council, the Trails and Open Space Committee and students of Northwest and Northern Guilford high schools for completing the mural art inside of the pedestrian tunnel under U.S. 220. Sessoms concurred, describing the tunnel art as “magnificent (and) awesome.” O’Day added that it was “very well done.”
PUBLIC HEARING 5 0 to rezone the nearly half-
acre tract at 7405 Summerfield Road at the request of Sport Auto owner Steve Barney; Barney plans to sell the property and relocate his business next
