Summerfield Scoop August 2020

Would you like 30,000 – 50,000 gallon water tanks next to your property, paid to the FIRE District, a separate taxing district with far more financial resources than the Town?

Mayor BJ Barnes said he will be “responsive to the needs of the citizens,” and decided it is most important for Town taxes to pay for “additional water resources to the FIRE District for fire safety.”

As soon as BJ Barnes, Tim Sessoms, Lynne Williams Devaney, John O’Day, and Reece Walker (council member/ fireman) took the Oath of Office they voted YES to establish a Town Area Water Authority for Local Water Investment for the FIRE District. They had decided this was the most important use of YOUR tax money and town financial reserves.

Cost? The map above shows two choices: A Water Tower Complex for $5.7 million in the town “Intersection Master Plan” (document on the town website). Or a series of smaller (30,000 to 50,000++ gallon) water tanks/ towers, with possible locations on the map above. Costs of water tank, pump, land, well testing, connectivity, and more vary greatly from $200,000 to $500,000+. John O’Day estimated the total cost $2 to $4 million; but where did he get that guess? Needs? Summerfield Scoop investigative journalism team did extensive research on a recap of FIVE years of Structure Fire Incident Reports for our Town. FIRE District would not provide their reports, but were obtained via Public Record Request. Scoop

learned that only 1 of 12 structure fires five years 2015 – 2019 required hauling

of any water! The FIRE District provides excellent services and as a result your fire insurance is a low rating of three, so please no fearmongering. The three FIRE stations each has a water tanker that have surpassed any need, plus water sources in the town, and they work with other fire districts if there is a serious fire. Map is very important.

Town of Summerfield is 26.56 square miles, and your taxes would pay for water tower/ tanks to serve 42 square miles, the FIRE district size.

House Bill 1163: Northwest Guilford

Water and Sewer Funds. Since 2017 Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Stokesdale participated in a municipal water authority study. It was well done by Timmons Group, but the three decided it was too expensive. HB1163, June 2020, sponsored by Rep. Jon Hardister and Rep. John Faircloth, allocated the remaining funds of about $1.1 million to each municipality for water and wastewater systems, and must be spent

URGENT! READ NOW!

by June, 30, 2022. The $1.1 million buys very little for a “water authority” and the other millions would be paid by Town taxpayers, to guarantee a water authority. If you want to keep our overall low density, this is not a gift.

Why the Town and Where? The FIRE District is a 501 (c) 3 since 2018, and does not have authority to force land purchases for their water tanks. The Town does have the right to use Eminent Domain for land determined to be a public use.

FIRE District has resources to plan, develop and manage their water systems for fire protection. We cannot ignore the other statement in the town’s water study – “Commercial development could tie to the system to provide fire supply water for their development(s).” and “Provides a good backbone for a potable water system should the town ever decide to install one.”

Concerns about a Summerfield Water Authority were stated, and BJ Barnes said, “Nothing can be farther from the truth.” Then why did they establish a Water Authority? How much of YOUR town tax money will they give to FIRE District now and in the future to maintain? Why haven’t they publicly talked about the true cost and the water tower/tank map above? Read the “WATER!” feature story in our May edition to learn more.