2017-06-26 Special Meeting Minutes
CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
JUNE 26, 2017
SPECIAL MEETING
Authority Members Present:
Mike Brown, Chair
Jennifer Adams, Vice-Chair
Bill Norris, Treasurer
Larry Sneeden, Secretary
Chuck Davis
Wes Corder
Cindee Wolf
Pat Kusek
Skip Watkins
Authority Member Excused:
Charlie Rivenbark
Staff Present:
Jim Flechtner, Executive Director
Frank Styers, Chief Operations Officer
Beth Eckert, Environmental Management Director
Kristi Irick, Customer Service Director
Carel Vandermeyden, Engineering Director
Eric Hatcher, Security and Emergency Manager
Denise Matroni, Human Resources Director
Lindsey Hallock, Executive Administrator
Donna S. Pope, Clerk to the Board
Attorney Present:
Linda A. Miles, the Miles Firm, PLLC
Guests Present:
Dan Toolan
Tyler Newman, BASES
April Farr
Steve Worrell
Harper Peterson
Michael Praats, Port City Daily
Jaricka Duncan
Sam Rankin
Ruth Ravitz Smith, New Hanover County
Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear River Watch
Tom Morgan
Miles Doran, CBS
Becky Miller
Anne Wilson
Hannah Patrick, WWAY
Spectrum News representative
Tim Buckland, Star-News
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority met in its offices on Monday, June 26, 2017. Mr. Brown called the
meeting to order at 11:00 AM and declared a quorum present. Mr. Watkins moved to excuse Mr.
Rivenbark. Ms. Wolf seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Mr. Brown thanked Ms. Adams and Ms. Smith for their work on the timeline and review presented to
the Board on June 22. Ms. Smith was available by phone for the present meeting if needed. Mr. Brown
stated that Ms. Adams worked for DuPont in Wilmington over 15 years ago and that no interaction
occurred between Ms. Adams, Ms. Smith, or staff during the review. Ms. Smith believed the review to
be independent, nonbiased, and thorough.
Mr. Brown reported that the review found that staff had acted in an appropriate, professional, timely,
and scientific manner. One recommendation stemmed from the review, and that was to consider
developing a process for releasing non-standard sampling and their results to the public.
Mr. Flechtner distributed copies of the 2016 Water Quality Report. He reported that there are 150
aminant
Monitoring Rule (UCMR) identifies and tests for unregulated contaminants in surface waters, and the
results are used by EPA to set standards. CFPUA participates in the UCMR program every five years.
The next UCMR testing by CFPUA will be in September 2018.
information available to its customers. The practices are immediate steps that can be taken to ensure
that customers have timely information. They are:
Include links to the detection of unregulated contaminants, a rolling 12-month list of water
quality test results, and the EPA, Centers for Disease Control, and other pertinent websites.
Provide information on the new webpage regarding disinfection byproducts, UCMR, source
water, and treatment processes.
Report the 2018 UCMR data at a Board meeting in addition to the Water Quality Report.
Issue press release for UCMR or other unregulated contaminant test results.
Secure Board approval for water study partnerships and bring the results to the Board meeting
following study completion.
Escalate unusual or concerning test data.
Conduct quarterly or special reviews with the NHC Health Department to discuss water quality
trends.
Board members discussed the UCMR testing schedule and the possibility of CFPUA conducting more
frequent sampling.
ter that is being
conducted in addition to the DEQ testing. He reported that Black & Veatch, who designed the Sweeney
rehabilitation and upgrades, would be setting up and testing prototypes for additional filtering and
treatment at Sweeney. Mr. Styers explained the methodology for testing the prototypes and ensuring
they do not impede the treatment mechanisms already in place.
Mr. Sneeden suggested that CFPUA could partner with UNC-W for water testing studies. Ms. Adams
agreed that alternative studies provide valuable data, and that the big question is what to do with the
information gleaned from such studies.
Grady endorsed providing more information about unregulated chemicals to the public but
observed that it could be meaningless without interpretation and regulatory guidelines. He stated that
citizens want to know about water safety, and it is a policy decision when to advise customers regarding
potential contaminants.
Mr. Watkins reminded the Board and staff that water issues are state and nationwide concerns.
EPA (federal)
DEQ (state)
Industry/manufacturing
Scientific community
DHHS (state) and local health departments
Local stakeholders
Utilities such as CFPUA
The Board discussed ways to interact and cooperate with other stakeholders. Ms. Becky Miller, a
customer, asked that CFPUA partner with citizens and biologists, stating that this is a well-educated
community. She reported that citizens desire more transparency and are concerned that decisions may
be made behind closed doors.
Ms. Kusek stated that, in studying the review and timeline Ms. Adams and Ms. Smith conducted, she did
not agree that CFPUA responded in a timely manner, and that she could list many things that could have
been done differently. She suggested that CFPUA develop a written communications policy, covering
who responds to the media, how to share information, and proper Board notification.
Mr. Brown thanked Board members for a helpful discussion. He suggested that staff further develop
strategies and bring them to the Board through the committee process.
motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board entered closed session at 12:10 PM.
Following a report from staff and Board direction, Ms. Wolf moved to return to open session. Ms.
Adams seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board returned to open session at 12:54
PM. Mr. Norris moved to adjourn. Mr. Watkins seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The
Board adjourned at 12:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna S. Pope
Clerk to the Board