[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6087512,"mediaKeyId","2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b","parentId",2889661,"title","Votes at a glance: December 5 Oak Ridge Town Council actions","audioSeconds",4847,"startMs",1396000,"endMs",6243000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b&start=1396&end=6243","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b/thumbnail_1396000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6087512/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-December-5-Oak-Ridge-Town-Council-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087512-9e36f44a99194b8410655a30fea7d90f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670999&Signature=E4TsvOBvDGhWWRHwWm0GDVJkVgiDsLI2ixK6vk9Ry8xCvsb1snnW2t~CoxFkiV8SKPBn9Fv4q631of17nefzcGK6YaJsgIWE~D~NRcbEn6NLZEF~4xK4zg0YMbDEkRc5kDw~yoYcFKY4MiwwzDukqT-fHnL48JBJykHM0AamtxGq6p4iSXdSeVltRw4vQMagoZonFqtDM6mi7lyvWC1FDSmlBFMng7tGMJXqAcbNQRpQKoi0YS-a-J-lF4X9N-S5-Dz3apzl6K~CJmxcbf2mINaGdl2pw5MVjGPLXOCXJ9vB5rZ6bph9dx3Bc~mcxntgXymvJk2oflKgep8jceWzEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-07T04:09:47.813Z","article","At its Dec. 5 meeting the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council took a series of formal actions, including ordinance amendments, appointments, policy adoption and referrals. Items with formal motions and votes included planning and zoning changes, committee appointments, schedule approvals and municipal policy updates listed below.

Summary of actions (all items approved unless noted):

- Text amendment to Chapter 30, Article 4 of the Oak Ridge Code of Ordinances to give the council the option to appoint Planning & Zoning Board members to serve as the Board of Adjustment (fold BOA into P&Z or allow council to serve as BOA): approved by voice vote.

- Revision of the thoroughfare/collector street plan: approved by voice vote.

- Appointments: Board of Adjustment regular members (Jason Streck, Nancy Stoudemire, Ron Simpson, Patty Paslerue, Clay Flint as ETJ representative) and alternates (Patrick Fiorentino, Craig Rosenfeld, Tara Tillman): approved.

- Appointment of Paul Carney as a regular member of the Historic Preservation Commission: approved.

- Reappointments: Nancy Stoudemire (Planning & Zoning Board and Tree City Committee), Roy Neidorf (Tree City Committee) and Chelsea Young (alternate to Parks & Recreation): approved.

- Approval of the 2025 town meeting schedule: approved.

- Adoption of the 2025 observed holiday schedule (follows State of North Carolina schedule): approved.

- Resolution R-2024-14 implementing state statutory restrictions on viewing specified content on town networks and devices (Town staff noted annual reporting requirements and coordination with IT): approved.

- Facility fee schedule and farmhouse community center policy: motion to return draft to Parks & Recreation and staff for revision based on council input; motion approved (referral).

- Financial items: acceptance of the finance officer's report; amendment to the Heritage Farm Park capital project budget ordinance to record $85,034 of previously expended capital items; authorization to amend the accounting policy to increase capitalization limit from $500 to $1,000: all approved.

Votes and procedure: Most motions were adopted by voice vote after a motion and second were recorded on the transcript; no roll-call tallies were read into the record. Where a voice vote was recorded, the minutes show the motions carried and no individual 'no' votes were announced during the recorded roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting December 5th 2024","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of formal actions taken by the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Dec. 5, including ordinance amendments, appointments and policy referrals.","taxTitle","Town of Oak Ridge, Guilford County, North Carolina","taxId",57591,"location","North Carolina","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6087517,"Town audit returns clean opinion; council amends capital-project ordinance and raises capitalization threshold",3659,736000,4395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b&start=736&end=4395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6087517/North-Carolina/Town-audit-returns-clean-opinion-council-amends-capital-project-ordinance-and-raises-capitalization-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087517-65d0c19d1140038405a60d8afe107e57/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670999&Signature=NdHSzF0BUnNUbgteqPsamPKIkOwsEaFf1gt~fvBRuDy643DbhrUkarFHYGSqpIw5OZV8u9nrYjtUAq9a8Ii4dXGBXUtIBNjmaSOPw0QZzwCiBNooMtyS2lDZfc6elxltGOhLi4SqUcv9nfdMrI5HIKZMFAkXI16ooGQ9rX0IasGBSPmSlGOaA6BiUQbGyukHr6qcs3QCVeYhBzoXBkp2BClF~SRTwEuQzXBYddpsOcdGQz78opFXHB8HNIS4Da0xgAN~jRW1l4zFxDccnVyzRrZ0O293WlZ6SkFP1kFKTHjYq-zZMuKrzP5a6yWPI0Bu8fpP5KqRVCrAqimcWrxZew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An independent audit of the Town of Oak Ridge's fiscal 2023–24 financial statements resulted in a clean (unmodified) opinion, the auditor told the Town Council on Dec. 5. The auditors said the North Carolina Local Government Commission's review was pending but that no changes were expected.

Chad Cook, audit director with Forvis Mazars, reported that overall cash and investments were down about $4.9 million compared with the prior year, primarily because of spending of debt proceeds and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds on the Heritage Farm Park capital project. \"Cash is down significantly compared to this time last year... it's really just a timing issue,\" Cook said.

Key figures presented to the council included a general-fund available balance decline of roughly $584,000 from the prior year, largely reflecting capital project expenditures with reimbursement timing differences, and a property‑tax collection rate of 99.79 percent. The town's property-tax rate remained unchanged for the year; assessed valuation increases were cited as the reason for higher property-tax receipts.

Following the audit presentation and related financial updates, the council approved three related actions: acceptance of the finance officer's monthly report, an amendment to the Heritage Farm Park capital project ordinance to account for $85,034 of earlier capital expenditures, and a change to the town's accounting policy to raise the capitalization threshold from $500 to $1,000.

The council's votes to amend the capital-project ordinance and adjust accounting policy were presented as housekeeping steps to ensure fund and asset records align with purchases already made and with modernized inventory practices. Finance staff said the higher threshold reduces administrative burden for low-value items while keeping meaningful assets tracked and insured.

Why it matters: The clean audit indicates the town's financial records comply with accounting standards; council amendments align the capital-project fund with completed expenditures for Heritage Farm Park and change the internal accounting threshold to reflect current replacement costs of small capital items.

What's next: The Local Government Commission will complete its review; staff will implement the revised capitalization policy and continue to monitor grant reimbursements and project accounting for Heritage Farm Park.","Forvis Mazars issued an unmodified audit opinion for fiscal 2023–24; council amended the Heritage Farm Park capital project ordinance to record prior expenditures and approved increasing the town's asset capitalization threshold from $500 to $1,000.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6087522,"Council sends farmhouse community‑center fee policy back to Parks & Rec after debate over senior hours",2694,3582000,6276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b&start=3582&end=6276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b/thumbnail_3582000.jpg","/articles/6087522/North-Carolina/Council-sends-farmhouse-communitycenter-fee-policy-back-to-Parks-Rec-after-debate-over-senior-hours","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087522-fef301c9249bed125c5e8e73467d334b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670999&Signature=ZPfbobXfJcZykrPP0bHQ9Zu7b0VKJKit3kcGfcpLo1eYErGbKmkcwYYgvUYSEHfqi-7iXhdQpbaJHq68uuD2lzsOJy8Q0-~vHQpXsrphmIgMztpeacKEmdx-DuEw35k43DsE20JI-8PRcQCGNJDN2KiActFirlkvHyhcxwOj4482YFKag3prs5tDVKnJiZtza9vQvmmB~~54rsqStsyQ1zJ1vgaD0D6kEM7FPDidkffD5DhQ5CZe9ei9Ttb553NJFZHT170oQEH3N5XhzOXYrpj1cB9RmeABhFySsZZpUYnxeyTjFBqXKmmkrM-FRv2VLGg3Cr~le-5NTdQSD8jmAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Dec. 5 discussed a proposed facility-fee schedule and usage policy for the newly completed farmhouse community center and directed staff and the Parks and Recreation board to revise the proposal and return it to the council.

Parks and Recreation presented a written policy that would allow resident seniors (65 and older in the draft) two hours per week of rent-free use during designated weekday hours, require $1,000,000 liability insurance for events serving alcohol, and set rental rates modeled on nearby towns. Adrian Eckenrod, a Parks and Rec board member, said the board compared rates with other facilities before recommending the proposal and emphasized the policy should be a \"living document\" because usage is unknown until the center opens.

\"The only liability, which any individual is already gonna have gone through those, you know, those steps if they are, you know, a facility that's serving alcohol,\" Eckenrod said, describing the insurance clarification in the draft.

Council members debated several details, including whether the rent-free senior hours should be offered as an \"introductory\" period (six to 12 months) to allow the town to collect usage data and whether the hours should end earlier in the day so the center remains available for after-school programs. Councilman Harton recommended an introductory data‑gathering period and asked Parks and Rec to report back with usage findings at six and 12 months; Councilman Stone proposed limiting free senior hours to 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Wednesday to protect afternoon availability for other groups.

Multiple commenters from the community urged the council to treat seniors and youth equitably and cautioned against restrictive rules that would discourage general use. Caroline Ruck, a Parks and Rec member and speaker, said the proposal \"is not offered at the exclusion of anyone else's use\" and that the free hours are intended to promote community use.

After discussion, the council voted to return the facility fee schedule and farmhouse community center policy to Parks and Rec and staff to incorporate council comments and bring a revised draft back to the council. The motion carried with the required votes; council members asked staff to circulate revisions promptly and recommended Parks and Rec report usage data to the council during the first year of operation.

Why it matters: The farmhouse community center is a new town amenity; how the town balances free access for seniors with paid rentals for youth leagues, private events and nonresidents will affect usage, staff workload and town revenue.

What's next: Staff will circulate a revised draft to Parks and Rec and council, incorporating the council's requested changes (shorter senior windows, an explicit data‑collection and reporting schedule and clarifications on insurance and cleaning expectations). The council said it expects a revised policy before the center opens to the public.","Council members debated senior free-use hours and other rental rules for the new farmhouse community center and voted to send the facility-fee schedule back to Parks and Recreation and staff for revision and return to council.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6087527,"Residents urge council to press Transco, Williams for details on proposed pipeline expansion",1172,1915000,3087000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b&start=1915&end=3087","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2889661-d9284027617807f7ce1ac944e5e4860b/thumbnail_1915000.jpg","/articles/6087527/North-Carolina/Residents-urge-council-to-press-Transco-Williams-for-details-on-proposed-pipeline-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087527-3e4b851bcb68a03e9c2fee683f17ac8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670999&Signature=OIHXQ1TwY2urk4FljyPTb2z8RQVPdEx1iCYGoBrdR1tnkWhxANgb8IisLFu7W~2XZeBkqxkrtwLtZ7hJBdjTCLt51u~8CJcHDhxlhaT~jwntMw85Gbu4ARyFn6GIZ9zCbiHoe8H5ksmDQ4Vt6GQr2~njsYTzgEpVcM7YZdtPPlzXARr6J4FOhq9wanuftNiAQL47QFqUZTaFUCIMZdzM-Sqxq5f5rgN1aF5aIauG8nmDYjUbtaeauZ1MaVfCLyy6vX707s3I1xL0AQxAG07sSxHCBanXjePSgiEURlJkl5wfJh1h5zq6hZgbqRthUnZj1UyG3Dzhrsa8cvUO~CaI3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Oak Ridge residents told the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Dec. 5 that a proposed pipeline expansion by Transco and Williams would endanger homes, churches, schools and groundwater and asked the council to press the companies for more information or to allow a public presentation.

The comments, delivered during a busy public-comment period, focused on safety risks from high-pressure methane pipelines, the presence of decades-old pipelines beneath much of Oak Ridge, unclear emergency-notification procedures for large public buildings and the potential for pipeline costs to be passed to ratepayers.

\"If a gas leak is detected in the pipelines in Oak Ridge, who is notified?\" asked Austin Goldman, an Oak Ridge resident who said several local churches and senior congregations would not be able to evacuate quickly. \"If a gas leak is detected in the pipelines in Oak Ridge, who is notified?\"

Other residents described land impacts and long-term property burdens. Brenda Chaney, whose property lies on the pipeline easement, said company rules have already limited how she may use her land and expressed worry about access and tree removal. \"They come in and tell me if I can put up a fence, if I can put up shrubbery. They decide with arbitrary rules that I've never been given,\" Chaney said.

Speakers pointed to public-safety and environmental concerns. Erica Hernandez, representing Clean Water for North Carolina, warned that an underground methane leak could contaminate aquifers and wells and that the pipeline would lock the region into fossil-fuel infrastructure. \"Protecting our water is essential for public health and the environment,\" she said, urging the council to hear a fuller presentation from opponents.

Several speakers asked the council to invite Transco and Williams to hold a public informational session in town so residents could ask company representatives questions directly. Theresa Spence asked the council to \"invite Transco here to have them discuss the pipeline with us\" and allow a question-and-answer period.

Council members discussed next steps during their comments later in the meeting. Councilman Stone suggested the council should offer the town hall for a noncommercial informational meeting if the companies wish to present. Mayor Jim Kinnaman and staff said town facilities are available to noncommercial groups; no formal referral or resolution was adopted on the pipeline.

Speakers also asked the council to consider a formal resolution opposing the project. Rachel Annalise Cheney, a property owner whose land would be affected, said residents might ask the council to \"consider a resolution to block the pipeline\" after hearing fuller information.

Why it matters: Residents described multiple communities and institutions — Oak Ridge Elementary School, Oak Ridge Military Academy, Oak Ridge First Baptist Church and Saint James AME Church — as within a calculated blast or impact zone for high-pressure pipelines, and they said long-term risks to groundwater and property value require clearer public notice and company transparency.

What's next: Council members said groups are free to request use of town facilities for informational sessions; one local organization was already planning a meeting. The council did not vote on any regulatory or zoning action related to the pipeline at this meeting.","Dozens of Oak Ridge residents voiced opposition to a proposed Transco/Williams pipeline expansion, citing safety, water contamination and property impacts and asking the council to seek more information or host an informational session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: December 5 Oak Ridge Town Council actions

Town audit returns clean opinion; council amends capital-project ordinance and raises capitalization threshold

Council sends farmhouse community‑center fee policy back to Parks & Rec after debate over senior hours

Residents urge council to press Transco, Williams for details on proposed pipeline expansion