[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6086683,"mediaKeyId","2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e","parentId",2894401,"title","Northwest Guilford CERT seeks volunteers, local funding and equipment; offers firefighter rehab support","audioSeconds",543,"startMs",660000,"endMs",1203000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e&start=660&end=1203","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e/thumbnail_660000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086683/North-Carolina/Northwest-Guilford-CERT-seeks-volunteers-local-funding-and-equipment-offers-firefighter-rehab-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086683-fc3b7ef5f334574a7f98c2bd813089ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1776138680&Signature=FHM4mpnfhwt0QzhHeZ4s0qHxKNjp0EJpEDiTnq12iXHNipX4rIPBQXh2x~wEKQATxyFxUhJZKqSXuUbNM50npRBJtdv3wJbEs-eA6gIU0d9LueWO7hcA~NeGpr2HzExnDLsE4XQ-unV5K8mxdILYnu3r6c89X-zOea89usbMIgxiOhMTGEF03aB~9cbLPJvXQzHWmOSBEyeIo-HHZu8sdUF7xVESC3fFd4JEUTuyvD7Ic9JovgqjxJeJaqFKoRk7lLt08Me63o7vzDp3jkAbe0qu6EHXN7dSZVvT1BsDL-ikWTHs5rOIW3Ch2qXjls8evBCTGFWiWwQgMU6tlIzeNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-08T00:51:23Z","article","Members of the Northwest Guilford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) addressed the Town of Oak Ridge council on Sept. 5 to describe the volunteer group's mission, training and resources and to request awareness and potential funding support.

Lauren Hughes, a local resident and CERT member, and John Browning, a longtime Oak Ridge volunteer and Guilford County EMS paramedic, told council the group has about 25 volunteers and provides neighborhood-level emergency support, firefighter rehabilitation assistance at large incidents, traffic control at public events, light search and rescue and other FEMA‑aligned functions. “We are all neighborhood volunteers. We live in Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale and the surrounding area,” Hughes said.

CERT members said each volunteer receives a response bag (roughly $100 per bag), training aligned with FEMA courses, and affiliation with Guilford County Emergency Management. The group asked the council to consider notifying them of grant opportunities or other public funds that could support equipment purchases and to consider coordinated funding at budget time. John Browning said CERT’s role is to supplement, not replace, professional fire and EMS capabilities and emphasized the value of pre‑incident training and local presence in the golden hour after major incidents.

Council thanked CERT and invited the group to be visible at Ridgefest and other community events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting September 5, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Northwest Guilford Community Emergency Response Team presented their capabilities and asked Oak Ridge officials to consider local funding and collaboration for equipment and training.","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},6086688,"Oak Ridge council hears plan to strengthen maintenance and survey Old Union Cemetery",436,2311000,2747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e&start=2311&end=2747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e/thumbnail_2311000.jpg","/articles/6086688/North-Carolina/Oak-Ridge-council-hears-plan-to-strengthen-maintenance-and-survey-Old-Union-Cemetery","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086688-c5e54950ff4f71d9b4fe2ecd54c5096c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776138681&Signature=Mfro3RpR~DycjcUmRxfO-B1uYbJZXUPvX6LEe1H1tpT5Sy3D77BC5FqKZbS6SSvmeTLQPnTHANFzhz4i-Sm4h5CusDc2C11r1zFYrwmal87-0jxBD1B~vhnAvGcU96tSnPo9LprIrMlwLfwRql4eJWYJcKreZfxTmT5qjayNHNLxCGrKzyvwY4nl7soDYX9MkwN4WQR33lntBwJinFBv~Xzi2kxpuXLqqZ1DYHkhmzKF-MZJUYI5Kz8~xEipzwyH5sgHmP-Cy1Q7pGk1vZkeJIsBE0zmOQa4y5cPQX4LbpnJ--NXFjurBQ-trzRWfO8xLmmW-Edi2qWjt3ClX7sP~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff briefed the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Sept. 5 about maintenance and possible improvements at Old Union Cemetery on East Harrell Road, a town-owned 1.5-acre parcel donated in 2012.

Brock, the town manager, provided the history of ownership and described the current maintenance routine: biweekly mowing and trimming along roadway and fence lines, plus two annual heavy-maintenance workdays for leaf and dead‑fall removal. He said outside volunteers and organizations have assisted, including a DAR cleanup and a Girl Scout troop; the town spent $30,000 in 2021 for contractor removal of dead and dying trees.

Staff presented several possible improvements that could better honor and protect gravesites, including a ground‑penetrating radar survey to locate graves, a small gravel parking area and benches, rebuilding the split-rail fence and repairing toppled or broken headstones. Brock said such projects are typically vetted through the budget process and that staff will bring costed options to council for possible inclusion in a future budget.

Council members urged a concrete plan and more frequent oversight. Councilman Stone, who has walked the site in recent weeks, said: “We have to put a plan together that says, at a minimum, this is what the cemetery needs to look like. And just maintain it at that minimum level or better.” Other council members suggested using outside volunteer groups (Eagle Scout projects, Preservation Oak Ridge, DAR) to supplement town work and recommended site visits so the council can set a desired end state. Staff will return with recommendations and cost estimates for council consideration.","Staff outlined the town’s maintenance routine and potential projects for Old Union Cemetery, including ground-penetrating radar, a small parking area, and gravestone repairs; council asked staff to return with costed options for budget consideration.",{"_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},6086692,"Votes at a glance: Oak Ridge Council actions, Sept. 5",2897,456000,3353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e&start=456&end=3353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e/thumbnail_456000.jpg","/articles/6086692/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Oak-Ridge-Council-actions-Sept-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086692-21b9411c1aa62fa5e845509890777bb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776138681&Signature=YLoBIJd6HVY6-i9EtRlhR8i~OYGZx1krxCAtMT4IFcleFlbaXGwxOOnpyE2OVUJecR~vc~PJgiOFcmTEqx7CBduZ4msb4Opw7oAEtcT~kD6W1EKDbzqhZbHruswo~hbm3gwZ6XN4~i22hSCCSOE2Fl2BjknqH4447c7clzd5cTDVQuGb4ppFiW-H0CwJeOvSsn~d3iOJDTJg2B0rfnAJTXXyWRqm~YB0P0mAf47Ui4BN8Wf46BRFfH1uD~uyP~q6Jx5KsCK8W-z~AwaWq8ULQ5qjB9CFTtNUGpXdt-~8aQJPt3r3qqZbk6iTm74AGbe~a~EU-SpiU6MxuCyx-SUsyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council took the following formal actions at its Sept. 5 meeting (motions are summarized from the meeting record):

• Approve the meeting agenda as presented — Approved by voice vote.

• Approve minutes for July 22 and Aug. 1 — Approved by voice vote.

• Reappoint Denise Sachs to the Historic Preservation Commission — Motion passed by voice vote.

• Revise the Town of Oak Ridge meeting schedule to move the Special Events Committee from the second Tuesday to the second Thursday of each month — Motion passed by voice vote.

• Renew the annual stormwater engineering contract with Freeze and Nichols and raise the annual cap from $15,000 to $23,000 — Motion passed by voice vote (see separate article for details).

• Surplus the second set of Oak Ridge Town Park bleachers (retroactive approval under town ordinance); recipient: Stokesdale Parks & Rec — Motion passed by voice vote.

• Approve the Surveillance Information Policy governing park cameras (law-enforcement access only; 30‑day retention) — Approved by voice vote (see separate article for details).

• Instruct staff to prepare a text amendment to assign Board of Adjustment responsibilities to the Planning and Zoning Board and related ordinance changes — Motion to direct staff approved by voice vote.

• Add a public-notice phrase about council-member attendance at board/committee meetings and request staff consider recording outstanding committee meetings (motion passed) — Motion passed by voice vote.

• Approve the monthly finance officer’s report — Motion passed by voice vote.

These items were recorded on the public agenda and approved by the Town Council during the Sept. 5 regular meeting. For contested or complex items (stormwater contract and surveillance policy), separate stories provide full context and quotes from staff and council.","A summary of formal motions and votes taken by the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council at its Sept. 5 meeting, including reappointments, schedule changes, contract renewals and policy approvals.",{"_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},6086695,"Oak Ridge raises annual stormwater engineering cap to $23,000, council approves renewal with Freeze & Nichols",119,2098000,2217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e&start=2098&end=2217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e/thumbnail_2098000.jpg","/articles/6086695/North-Carolina/Oak-Ridge-raises-annual-stormwater-engineering-cap-to-23000-council-approves-renewal-with-Freeze-Nichols","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086695-22293c7c614cca61f2f31d4445b332ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1776138681&Signature=H7s5EHl4jnpj5p9ipWdNHsQxVEoUCBZE7vuTyAsndf7h~KvS0qTIWopPQyyPJJII95ReaK~UpU0B4zmp9GTvmHxT5QcZOryEuHYTI~YottT8lpwxY48A4~kPZBFo7umlpTPHjhtIgVm3qL6oVRk~TQeqOKssuEzcgCjLftHWjOjFI4IPcmxrr4hhJIFxMeEq84dEqtNU1fwZs4bdVipzEPFL8F-X~TXzPVHaSBkaKz4NGq-QceZYfN8p6kA8hbdSaMISmOrGF-uySAHtLAFVN4aARBPKphF~HFpJeTrY~j3ISIDgvLaIMbKBC78qcN9pJr64k7jGc-UilZrsf-v2LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Sept. 5 approved renewing its annual stormwater engineering contract with Freeze and Nichols and raised the contract cap from $15,000 to $23,000, citing a steady increase in development and heightened state oversight.

Brock, the town manager, told the council Freeze and Nichols has served as the town's contracted engineer since February 2018 and provides plan review, inspection, and enforcement for private-development stormwater issues and annual Jordan Lake rules reporting. “Given the pace of new development, and I’ve also noted heightened state oversight,” Brock said, the town needs a higher cap to fund required inspections and remediation work.

Council asked whether the change would have a budget impact; Brock said the increase had been anticipated in the consulting budget. The council approved the motion to renew the contract and set the cap at $23,000 by voice vote.

The contract covers plan review, inspection and remediation direction for retention devices, annual Jordan Lake rules reporting to the state DEQ and related services. The council directed staff to finalize the renewal under the new cap.","Council approved renewing the town's stormwater engineering contract with Freeze and Nichols and raised the annual cap from $15,000 to $23,000, citing increased workload and stronger state oversight under Jordan Lake rules.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":92,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6086698,"Oak Ridge council approves park camera policy limiting access to law enforcement",341,3012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e&start=3012&end=3353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894401-e4e1abea858fffb266fb4dad40d6ab7e/thumbnail_3012000.jpg","/articles/6086698/North-Carolina/Oak-Ridge-council-approves-park-camera-policy-limiting-access-to-law-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086698-818c28bc9163e1fc1d731637fa084fe9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776138681&Signature=cGkR0qm-6GM0MG6cA6dTI2yM65NmUsHsQ01ExIW5wwFr2pew~c4Nm7lFYV4LOocWVydR5j72eP6TlP8V5men50EZ6D8dFB~teCcNFDSkBVe4NEzwnle4MlMLP9gchIu--T6zKZK3fY~B4l8bGyJMD6M7lcspCXCjLyeiMGBquO3vGATIIt710MlVhUfBjrIJ5awFEzXSZcbM0SurCzrz7Yc0hN4nNl3TP6Seeh0yE8HFdC4rg3zmR3c37zdDKVUKNnib34yOxwM6KMBFVJ5MUOsjZJobM14dcnawqxv7MUOnFLfXUt-mktIDphMvidrkNDGmF3MZ3vtKoZvxcNA-Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Sept. 5 approved a surveillance information policy governing license-plate and dome cameras at entrances to two town parks, directing that footage be retained for 30 days and accessed only by law enforcement for investigations.

The policy was presented by Brock, the town manager, who said the system is being installed “in the next two weeks” and that the policy confines use to criminal investigations. “I think we’ve determined, confidently, that if we stick to the policy as proposed this evening, this is strictly for the use of law enforcement,” Brock said during the presentation. He added that staff will not have routine access and that footage will not be publicly posted.

Council members raised privacy and effectiveness questions before the vote. Councilman Stone said the system met the town’s stated objective of monitoring vehicles entering and leaving parking lots and added that he supported the policy. “There’s always going to be a question about, over time, is the system going to help law enforcement? Don’t know. The best we can do is say we have a system that we’re trying to do that with,” Stone said. Several council members encouraged residents to avoid leaving valuables in vehicles as the cameras are an investigative tool rather than a prevention panacea.

The policy also requires that law-enforcement requests be timely; Brock told the council that data is destroyed after 30 days unless retained as part of a formal investigation and that access to evidence transferred on physical media would be governed by law-enforcement rules. The council approved the policy by voice vote.","The Town of Oak Ridge approved a surveillance information policy for newly installed license-plate and dome cameras at two park entrances, limiting routine access to the Guilford County Sheriff and requiring automatic deletion after 30 days.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Northwest Guilford CERT seeks volunteers, local funding and equipment; offers firefighter rehab support

Oak Ridge council hears plan to strengthen maintenance and survey Old Union Cemetery

Votes at a glance: Oak Ridge Council actions, Sept. 5

Oak Ridge raises annual stormwater engineering cap to $23,000, council approves renewal with Freeze & Nichols

Oak Ridge council approves park camera policy limiting access to law enforcement