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Resident raises health concerns about chemicals in utility poles near Ridgeview; council to arrange follow-up with Public Works
Summary
A Ridgeview resident told the council she fears chemicals used in older utility poles may contaminate soil and groundwater and posed potential cancer and organ-damage risks; council asked staff to arrange a follow-up meeting with Public Works to review the concern and responsibilities.
At the start of the public-comment portion of the Dec. 16 meeting, Ridgeview resident and licensed radiologic technologist Rivonda Lynch raised concerns about chemicals used in old utility poles in the Ridgeview redevelopment area. Lynch said such preservatives can "create toxic" contamination in soil and groundwater and cited possible links to cancer and organ damage based on her professional experience.
Lynch told the council she had heard there were roughly 40 poles in the Ridgeview area (mainly on South Center Street) but said she had not seen blueprint confirmation of that count. She requested clarity on who is responsible and asked the city to explain next steps.
Council members asked staff to arrange for Lynch to meet with Public Works staff (Steve Miller was identified as the Public Works director) after the meeting to discuss jurisdictional responsibilities and potential next steps. No immediate testing plan or formal action was recorded during the meeting.
Lynch: "Whenever we hear that term, carcinogens, our minds immediately shift to cancer. In this case, cancers that may be caused by chemicals in these old utility poles..."
