Blue Ridge staff propose drone-and-AI tour to inspect sewer plant, avoid liability

Apr 10, 2026

City staff proposed creating a recorded drone tour with an AI overview of the sewer plant to reduce liability and keep technical experts available for questions instead of hosting an in-person council site visit.

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Council members discussed liability and public-safety concerns about conducting a group tour of the wastewater treatment plant and supported a recorded alternative. A council member proposed using a drone pilot and an AI-generated overview to document plant systems and make the material publicly available for future review and questions: "I'm going to do a drone tour because we have access to a pilot, a drone, and just go through our whole sewer plant and have like an AI overview of this is what this does, this is what that does," the member said.

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